Former Sturgis man dies in Florida

The former owner of a jewelry store in Sturgis was shot and killed at his business in Florida earlier this week.

Investigators from West Palm Beach said John Lauseng (LAW-sing) was ambushed by two men as he arrived at his jewelry store. Police said following a brief scuffle, Lauseng was shot in the back as he attempted to flee the store through an exit at the rear of the store.

He staggered to a nearby gas station, where he collapsed and later died at a local hospital, police said. The suspects remain at large and a motive was not immediately identified.

Lauseng lived in Sturgis until 2001. He operated a jewelry store in the 1200 block of South Nottawa Road.

Child dies in crash

One person was killed, and three were seriously injured, in a single vehicle crash Sunday afternoon on Lutz Road, near Fairchild Road, south of Three Rivers. According to State Police, a 4-year-old boy, identified as Dominic Cannon, died in the crash, when the car left the road and struck a tree. The injured occupants were 28-year-old Gary Cannon, 28-year-old Rikki Cannon, and Jaydon Everett, age 5. All of the victims are from the Three Rivers area. They were taken to Bronson Methodist Hospital for treatment.

TR woman injured in crash

One person was injured in a crash Monday afternoon on the west side of Three Rivers at the intersection of US-131 and Hoffman Road. 51-year-old Mark Vanaken of Union was southbound on 131, when he attempted to turn east on to Hoffman. He collided with a northbound vehicle driven by Amber Thomas, age 25, of Three Rivers. Her vehicle left the road, struck some trees, and caught fire. Thomas was taken to Three Rivers Health for treatment.

Armed robbery near TR

Three residents from Three Rivers have been arrested in connection with an armed robbery which occurred over the weekend at a residence in the 58000 block of Ash Road. During the encounter, the victim was struck in the head with a handgun, and the suspects reportedly stole a large amount of cash. Several search warrants were sought and executed. The searches lead sheriff’s deputies and Three Rivers Police officers to find a couple of the suspects, as well as a significant amount of drugs packaged for delivery.

Search for body continues

Members of a Michigan State Police search party were unsuccessful Thursday in finding the body of 32-year-old Venus Stewart.

The organized search included teams concentrating in heavily wooded locations in and around the Fulton Game Area in Wakeshma Township, in southeastern Kalamazoo County.

Stewart has been missing since late April after she was abducted outside her parents’ Colon Township residence. Investigators are certain she is dead and her husband, 29-year-old Douglas Stewart, remains in the St. Joseph County Jail after being charged with open murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree premeditated murder in connection with Venus’ presumed death.

TR man gets prison term

St. Joseph County Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman has issued a prison term of three years to a Three Rivers man who provided alcohol to a local man and woman who died in a car crash last fall.

Jonathan Sudakin, 44, was charged with two counts of providing alcohol to minors. His actions on Nov. 3 last year resulted in a fatal accident on Buckhorn Road that killed 19-year-old Kevin Glass and 19-year-old Keriann McClain, both of Three Rivers.

The vehicle driven by Glass struck a fire hydrant, landscape boulders and a tree. McClain died instantly and Glass died about a month later from injuries sustained as a result of the accident.

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