ALPINE TOWNSHIP, Mich. — The suspect in a deadly shooting from the middle of June at York Creek Apartments was arraigned on a charge of manslaughter.
Santiago Barajas appeared via video on Wednesday in 63rd District Court. He pleaded not guilty on counts of manslaughter and use of a firearm in commission of a felony. The charges stem from a shooting on June 15 at the York Creek Apartments.
The Kent County Sheriff's Office responded to the apartments that day for a complaint about gunshots, but did not locate evidence anyone was hit. Hours later a resident discovered a body in a wooded area near where the initial complaint was filed.
The 28-year-old victim, a Grand Rapids resident, was identified as Mark Blakely by investigators. The medical examiner determined he died from multiple gunshot wounds.
Barajas had previously been connected to the crime after deputies found him near the scene, arresting him for illegally carrying a concealed weapon. The 18-year-old was out on a $100,000 bond with an electronic tether on that charge when deputies arrested him on Tuesday once the prosecutor's office decided to move forward with the new charges.
Judge Jeffrey O'Hara upped Barajas' bond to a quarter million dollars and kept him on the GPS tether.
If convicted, Barajas could spend up to 15 years in prison for the manslaughter charge and an additional 2 years for the felony firearm count.
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