LINCOLN TOWNSHIP — Three Benton Harbor residents are dead and one is in critical condition after their car crashed during a police pursuit early Sunday morning, according to the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department.

The chase began when a neighbor of the Black Arsenal Gun Store called the Berrien County Public Safety Dispatch at 5:11 a.m. to report glass breakage. The caller was able to give a description of a gold four door SUV that left the scene toward Red Arrow Highway. The breaking and entering was confirmed by the alarm company contacting dispatch reporting an active alarm. Area police agencies were advised of the situation and the vehicle description. Lincoln Township Police arrived on scene and were able to identify that several long guns were missing from the gun store.

A Berrien County Sheriff’s deputy observed a vehicle matching the description around 5:26 a.m. on I-94 eastbound near the 27-mile marker.

The deputy activated his emergency lighting and a traffic stop was initiated. The suspect vehicle pulled to the side of the roadway. After coming to a stop, the vehicle then sped off eastbound on I-94. The deputy then pursued the vehicle with his emergency lighting and siren activated. The pursuit continued eastbound on I-94 where the vehicle exited at M-139 and turned southbound toward Scottsdale. The vehicle continued southbound on M-139, where it lost control north of Rockey Weed Road and crashed into a large tree.

There were four occupants in the vehicle at the time of the crash. Three of the occupants were pronounced deceased at the scene, including the drive,r Jamahri Jayshaun Fuller, 20, of Benton Harbor; the right front passenger, Davion Marquez Patton, 17, and the rear passenger, Allan Trevon-James Velox, 17. The other rear passenger, Anton Duran Morgan, 17, is at Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids in critical condition. 

The Lincoln Township Police Department has confirmed that there were eight firearms stolen from the gun store and all eight firearms were recovered at the scene of the crash. There were three pistols, one shotgun and five rifles.

The Berrien County Sheriff’s Office has requested the Michigan State Police to conduct the investigation into the crash. The MSP Traffic Crash Reconstruction Team was activated along with the 5th District Special Investigation Section.

As standard operating procedures, the deputies involved have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation and reviewed by the Berrien County Prosecutors Office. The names of the department will not be released until the investigation is completed.

Berrien County Undersheriff Chuck Heit expressed his condolences to the families.

“This is a tragic incident and our thoughts and prayers are with the friends and families of the victims,” Heit said.