Theodore Lawson, a 63-year-old Democratic Party official and Ingham County Democratic Party secretary, was shot and killed in Lansing, Michigan. The incident occurred on October 8 when Lawson was approached by 15-year-old Lamar Patrick Kemp and two of his friends. According to police, security video footage showed Kemp shooting Lawson in the head after asking him for a dollar. Lawson was reportedly knocking on doors for a City Council candidate at the time of the shooting. Kemp has been charged as an adult with murder and weapons charges and was denied bail during his arraignment. The community has reacted to the incident, and funeral services for Lawson have been announced.
Ingham County Prosecutor John Dewane commented on the incident, suggesting that guns were to blame for the killing. He highlighted the issue of youthful offenders illegally carrying guns and engaging in gun violence in the county. Lansing Police Chief Ellery Sosebee praised Dewane’s stance on gun violence.
The tragic incident adds to the rising crime wave in the United States, with robberies, assaults, carjackings, and murders increasing across the country. Democrats have faced criticism for their perceived soft-on-crime policies and the “defund the police” movement. Several Democratic officials have also become victims of crime, further highlighting the issue.