Two teen boys in Michigan are facing jail time after they attempted a carjacking that ended in murder. A 17-year-old boy reportedly offered the teens a ride in his car because it was cold outside. The pair then tried to steal his car, shooting him when they believed he was going to harm them.
Now, one of the teens has been charged, had his time in court, and is awaiting sentencing. The other is set to face the judge early next year, where he will be charged as an adult in the murder.
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The slain teen was trying to do a good deed.
Jack Snyder, 17, had just left his girlfriend’s birthday party on February 17, 2023, when he noticed then 13-year-old Dewond Estes III and then 14-year-old Justice Chimner. It was a cold night, so Snyder offered the young teens a ride.
“I think it was 16 degrees that night and Chimner said he was just trying to be a nice guy,” BCPD Detective Brandin Huggett said during a preliminary hearing for Estes and Chimner in August 2023, according to WSBT.
The teens were looking to steal a car.
Chimner and Estes reportedly wanted to steal a car, a probable cause affidavit read, per WOOD. They were planning to sell the car for money. The affidavit also stated that Chimner noticed Estes had communicated with someone via Snapchat about making a deal. According to WWMT, a warrant is out for the arrest of the person from Snapchat, reportedly called “Spaz.”
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The shooting wasn't premeditated.
Chimner claimed that he believed Snyder was reaching for a gun, per the affidavit cited by WOOD. Chimner then shot twice, killing Snyder. Multiple outlets say Chimner did admit to police that he was the one who pulled the trigger.
WOOD also reported that the teen claimed to have stolen the weapon from his mother. Multiple news outlets stated that both teens were charged with felony murder as adults in August 2023.
Estes still awaits his sentencing, and Chimner's trial date has been set.
The teens’ legal teams had differing accounts of how their client should be charged.
WSBT reported that Chimner’s attorney, Lee Graham, tried to argue the teen wasn’t involved in the carjacking plan because Estes made the deal on Snapchat. In turn, Estes’ attorney, Don Sappanos, claimed Estes tried to stop the shooting. The teen allegedly told Chimner to “stop” when he saw him pull out the gun.
On October 17, 2024, Estes pleaded guilty to a combined juvenile and adult sentence for carjacking. His charge of felony murder was dismissed.
Chimner has been charged with one count carjacking, two counts of felony firearm, and one count of felony open murder, according to court records. He is expected to return to court for trial on January 21, 2025.
The dead teen's family is satisfied with the deal.
“I did not want my family to have to sit through a long trial and be forced to relive everything and see crime scene photos,” Jack Snyder’s uncle, Ryan Jordan, told WWMT.
Jordan spoke with multiple news outlets about the teen, whose obituary called him “light-hearted, charismatic, athletic and humorous.” He told FOX 17, “Instead of a graduation open house, we had a memorial. Didn’t get to see him off to college, the holidays have been a little bit different. It’s been a little tough for the entire family.”
The family raised $38,000 through a GoFundMe account after his death.
