Muskegon Heights, Michigan

From the Muskegon Chronicle of August 10, 2007

Would-be robber's slaying 'justifiable'

The fatal shooting of a man while trying to rob a Muskegon Heights woman in her driveway has been ruled "justifiable," Muskegon County Prosecutor Tony Tague said Thursday.

That means no homicide charge will be filed in the July 25 shooting of Edtwon Magett, 32, of Milwaukee.

But the shooter faces trial on several other felony counts.

Kenyada Yvonne Young, 27, waived her right to a preliminary examination Thursday on five charges: being a felon in possession of a firearm, carrying a concealed weapon, making a false report of a felony, delivery of a controlled substance and a felony firearm count. Sixtieth District Judge Michael J. Nolan ordered Young bound over for trial in 14th Circuit Court.

Also waiving his preliminary hearing Thursday was Magett's alleged accomplice in the botched robbery attempt. Malcolm Lamont Price, 19, of 3013 Woodcliffe, faces trial on charges of assault with intent to rob while armed and felony firearm possession.

Magett was shot in the head by his intended victim about 1:30 a.m. in the driveway at 2030 Riordan in what authorities have called a drug-related robbery attempt. He died July 26 at a Muskegon hospital.

Authorities said Young had just pulled into her driveway when Magett confronted her. She started to open the car door, and he pulled it open the rest of the way, put a gun to her head and demanded money.

Police and prosecutors said the woman appeared to be cooperating but instead pulled a small-caliber handgun out of her pocket and shot Magett.

She then allegedly forced Price to drag Magett to her front porch and kick the residence open to make it appear a breaking and entering had occurred, police said.

Prosecutors earlier said Young is an alleged drug dealer and that the holdup men believed she was carrying a large amount of money. She did have several hundred dollars in her possession, and police also found what they said were illegally obtained Vicodin pills in her home.

Police said Magett had been in prison most of his adult life, and his record showed convictions for armed robbery and narcotics violations in Wisconsin and Michigan.

He had been staying with a relative in Muskegon Heights after getting out of prison two months ago. The state corrections department Web site shows Magett was released May 15 on parole after a 2001 drug conviction in Michigan's Cass County and a 2003 prison escape conviction in Berrien County.