Grand Rapids resident Courvoisier Simmons, implicated in the 2023 shootout that left a father of three dead and another person injured, has been sentenced to prison. As reported by WOODTV, Simmons received 7 to 21 years for involuntary manslaughter in addition to a mandatory two-year term for a felony firearm conviction. This follows an incident that occurred on Sept. 29, 2023, near South Division Avenue and Fair Street, during which Lavadis Crawford-Blackman was fatally shot.
Simmons, 30, took a plea deal on the day of his status conference in March 2025, which led to the dismissal of second-degree murder and other charges as part of an agreement, per an article by WZZM13. During the time of the violent encounter, two Grand Rapids Police officers were patrolling the area and witnessed the gunfight, which had erupted among a large gathering of people. One officer discharged their weapon at a supposed shooter, although it did not result in any injuries.
The shootout, described as one of the largest crime scenes in my entire career by Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstrom, left buildings and vehicles struck by gunfire and resulted in a widespread collection of shell casings spanning several blocks. The aftermath of the shootout saw the recovery of two handguns and anchored a complex investigation into the circumstances that culminated in the tragic loss of life.
