Cori Marie-May Watts, a 22-year-old resident of Muskegon, Michigan, has been identified as one of the two people killed in a deadly shooting on December 6, 2025. A GoFundMe campaign launched by family members has raised funds for Watts’ funeral expenses, with services pending notification through Clock Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Muskegon.
According to Muskegon Police Department, the deadly shooting occurred around 3:15 p.m. at a residence in the 600 block of Jackson Avenue near McLaren Street, in the Jackson Hill neighborhood.
An altercation inside the home escalated when multiple individuals entered, leading to gunfire that struck five people, authorities reported. The incident, possibly linked to a robbery, left two dead and three injured, with officers securing the scene and aiding victims.
Cori Marie-May Watts, 22, sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was transported to Trinity Health Muskegon Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries later that evening. The cause of death was confirmed as complications from the gunshot trauma by the Muskegon County Medical Examiner’s Office. Joshua Fondren Jr., 25, died at the scene from similar wounds, while two other 25-year-old men remained in critical condition and a 4-year-old child suffered a minor graze wound, expected to recover fully.
Born and raised in Muskegon, Watts graduated from Muskegon High School in 2021, where she participated in the school’s culinary program, honing skills that later supported her entry-level role as a prep cook at a local diner. She balanced part-time shifts with online courses in hospitality management at Muskegon Community College, aiming to open her own catering business focused on soul food recipes passed down from her grandmother.
Family centered Watts’ life as the eldest of four siblings, where she often organized holiday baking sessions with her parents, both longtime factory workers in the area, and helped care for her younger brothers during school breaks. Her close-knit household in the Jackson Hill area emphasized resilience, with regular attendance at neighborhood block parties that strengthened extended family ties across the east side of the city.
Watts embraced an active lifestyle through weekend volleyball leagues at local parks, where she captained a recreational team, and pursued hobbies like journaling creative menus and collecting vintage cookbooks from thrift shops. Her routine included early morning walks along Lake Michigan’s shore, blending reflection with sketching ideas for fusion dishes that married Midwestern and Southern flavors.
A GoFundMe campaign launched by family members has raised funds for Watts’ funeral expenses, with services pending notification through Clock Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Muskegon. Donations support arrangements and aid her family during this loss, as the community holds vigils releasing pink and purple balloons in her honor. Police continue probing the non-random event, urging tips to aid justice.
Related: Joshua Fondren Jr Death: Beloved 25-year-old resident of Muskegon, MI, has died on December 6