FLINT, MI — A Flint man was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder in the 2020 shooting deaths of a woman and her 9-month-old grandson, Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said. Deandre Montrell Arrington, 32, was also convicted on multiple firearms and fleeing charges after a trial that began Oct. 7.
The Facts
- What: A jury convicted Deandre Montrell Arrington of two counts of first-degree premeditated murder in the deaths of Belinda Hart and Romelo Jones Jr.
- Where: The killings happened at a home on East Pulaski Avenue in Flint.
- When: The shooting took place Dec. 26, 2020, and the verdict was returned after trial proceedings that began Oct. 7.
- Who: Prosecutors said Hart was 45 and Jones was 9 months old. Arrington is 32.
- Charges: Arrington was also convicted of two counts each of discharge of a firearm from a vehicle causing death and discharge of a firearm in or at a building causing death, plus felon in possession of a firearm, carrying a concealed weapon, third-degree fleeing and eluding, resisting and obstructing a police officer, and eight counts of felony firearm.
- Status: He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 11, 2027. First-degree murder carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole.
What police say
Prosecutors said Flint officers found Hart dead inside the home from gunshot wounds. Romelo was also shot and was taken to Hurley Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Leyton’s office said the evidence showed the shots came from a white SUV. Prosecutors said investigators tied the shooting to retaliation for an earlier homicide.
Assistant prosecutors Michael Pifer and Zachary Serzo handled the case at trial. Leyton said the family had waited nearly six years for the verdict.
“Belinda Hart and her 9-month-old grandson were killed in retaliation for something someone else did,” Leyton said. “Their family has waited nearly six years for this day.”
The investigation
According to prosecutors, more than 100 shell casings were recovered from the street outside the home. That amount of evidence can help investigators reconstruct where shots were fired, how many rounds were discharged, and the possible path of the attack.
Prosecutors said a Michigan State Police trooper spotted the white SUV and followed it until it stopped on North Street. Arrington then got out of the driver’s side and ran, authorities said, before being arrested after a short foot chase.
Investigators also said a dog tracking the route used during the pursuit found three firearms. In cases like this, recovered weapons and shell casings can be compared with forensic evidence to help connect a suspect to the shooting and the vehicle involved.
What the charges mean
First-degree premeditated murder is the most serious homicide charge under Michigan law. A conviction carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole, meaning the court does not have discretion to set a shorter term.
The firearm counts also matter because Michigan law treats gun crimes as separate offenses, not just as add-ons to the homicide charge. Multiple felony firearm convictions can increase the penalties tied to a case and reflect the number of underlying crimes prosecutors say occurred.
Charges such as fleeing and eluding, resisting and obstructing a police officer, felon in possession of a firearm, and carrying a concealed weapon address conduct before, during, or after the alleged shooting. At sentencing, a judge considers the convictions and the law that applies to each count.
What happens next
Arrington is due in court for sentencing on Jan. 11, 2027. That hearing will give the judge a chance to formally impose punishment after the jury’s verdict.
Before sentencing, defense lawyers may file any post-trial motions allowed by law, and the court will prepare for the final hearing. In a case with a mandatory life sentence on the murder counts, the main remaining step is the formal entry of judgment.
Have information on a crime? Contact local police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
