Family grieving for Mt. Morris Township man shot, killed - ABC 12 – WJRT – Flint, MI

(03/10/13) - Family is grieving the loss of Laventez Phipps, 21, who was shot and killed Saturday afternoon.

The shooting happened at a home in the 5000 block of Nasser Street in Mt. Morris Township.

Laventez comes from a big family; he's one of 10 children. They're all leaning on each other in this time of unspeakable personal tragedy.

Hearts are broken after losing a brother, son and father. Laventez was shot and killed on Saturday. His family gathered at a home to celebrate his short life.

"It just hurt, it hurt so bad words can't even explain it, it feel like someone took your heart right out of your chest," said Monsheea Phipps, Laventez's sister.

Monsheea held his baby boy while she spoke to us. Laventez's father says he remembers when he was that small.

"I can remember the day he was born, he smiled, always kept a smile on his face," said James Nelson, Laventez's father.

And that's how family remembers him: funny and happy. He was also passionate about music. They lovingly nick-named him "Ducey" and say he made friends wherever he went.

"Everybody loved Ducey, all the little kids in the neighborhood, he had a name for everybody, if you beg from him your name is Beggin' Betty," said Donyetta Phipps, Laventez's sister.

Laventez would've celebrated his twenty-second birthday next month. His family is holding close to each other to get through this.

"We just got to pray and stay strong and lean on each other, we have a praying family, we have a praying family, we know when prayers go up blessings come down and we praying," Donyetta said.

Police arrested 17-year-old Darshaun Demond in connection to this shooting. They arrested him Saturday night, but he has not been charged - he is a person of interest.