Family of bar-murder victim lament
Jared Glenn, killed in October 2019, described as ‘bright light,’ ‘kind spirit’
The family of Jared Glenn on Thursday lamented the senseless loss of his life because a drunk and angry man wildly fired shots outside an Eastpointe bar more than a year ago.
Glenn, 34, of Rosesville, was fatally shot in the face in October 2019 by Lenny Whitfield outside the Last Call Bar & Grill. Whitfield fired into a crowd gathered outside the bar around closing time after he had been thrown out and assaulted by a bar bouncer.
Five other people were wounded.
Three of Glenn’s immediate family members described his joyful, outgoing spirit in their statements at Whitfield’s sentencing to life-without-parole for a first-degree murder conviction in October in Macomb County Circuit Court.
“With Jared’s passing, our family is deprived of one of the greatest joys of our lives and the source of some of our greatest happi
ness,” said Glenn’s mother, Sarah McNanney.
McNanney said her son was born with a genetic condition, Williams Syndrome, which comes with developmental delays and medical conditions but also an extremely engaging, warm personality. He especially loved concerts, cars, dancing and singing, she said.
“He truly loved everyone and was a model human being,” she said.
Jared graduated from high school and earned a secondary degree, and held a job at Kroger for seven years and Outback Steakhouse for more than a year before his death. He held a job but relied on her for transportation and other needs. He was involved in the Williams Syndrome Association, where he was “a leader and role model to all,” she said.
“Jared and I were so very close,” she said. “Such a large part of my life was taking care of Jared. Now that he is gone, every day is a struggle, a struggle to find meaning, a struggle to know what to do with the rest of my life. I feel so very lost without him in my life. … I feel completely unable to help them (Jared’s siblings) as I struggle to deal with my own pain, feelings so deep I can barely feel them, feelings so deep that I’m afraid if I feel them I won’t be able to take a breath.”
She said he dreamed of living on his own, finding a life partner and traveling to Europe, she said.
His father, Mark Glenn, said, “Society has lost a bright light. But I know he is among us and will never be forgotten for his personality, kind spirit, actions and deeds.”
A former Detroit police officer, Glenn bemoaned the violent gun culture that creates tragedies.
Allison Glenn said of he r younger brother, “Jared Glenn showed up. Jared Glenn cared. Jared Glenn was love. … Despite all of the odds that were against him … every day my brother Jared Glenn chose to live his life with happiness and joy.”
She expressed dismay at Whitfield’s acts.
“With one poor choice (you) inflicted trauma on so many, and all I feel is pain,” she said. “I feel pity for you because you did not get a chance to meet Jared that night, for he was the kind of person who could’ve saved your life with a simple smile and a high five.”
She called Whitfield the man “who thought it was OK and reasonable to shoot a gun into crowd of unsuspecting people, injuring many and murdering the one person that would have probably made you smile, offered you a hug and generally found the good in you.
“I agree it’s possible that you and Jared didn’t have the same opportunities in life that others did, but Jared chose joy and love, that’s something your choices will never take away from us.”
None of the other victims who were shot that night spoke at the hearing. Whitfield was convicted of four counts of attempted murder and was sentenced by Judge Michael Servitto to 30 years in prison on each of those counts.
The hearing was held remotely over Zoom.
Before they spoke, Whitfield spoke from a conference room in the county jail for a half-hour. He explained why he believed he received an unfair trial and should have been acquitted because he was acting in self defense after being treated badly and beaten by one or two bar bouncers, and was affected by alcohol intoxication.
He said he at worst should have been convicted of manslaughter because he acted in the heat of passion. Manslaughter carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison.
He called multiple witnesses in the case liars and denied leaving the bar before returning to fire the shots.
Trial evidence revealed Whitfield drove he and his male neighbor in Detroit to the bar at 10 Mile Road and Hayes so he could be a “wingman” for his neighbor in meeting two female friends.
Whitfield said he was socializing and drinking with people inside the bar but was kicked out after his beer slid off a slanted part of the bar.
He said he tried to reenter and was beaten. He said he awoke outside the bar in a state of confusion. He went to his nearby vehicle, removed a gun hidden in the engine compartment and fired shots along the sidewalk adjacent to the bar, with bullets striking people who had gathered outside the entrance.
Whitfield, who was the lead mechanic at a Detroit car-repair shop, called the incident a “tragedy” and said he wanted to relay his “deepest apologies” and “regrets” to the victims and their loved ones.