Boy, 15, charged as adult in killing of Ted Lawson Sunday in north Lansing

LANSING — A Lansing teenager faces murder and weapon charges in connection with the shooting death of a prominent Democratic activist who was stumping for a political candidate in north Lansing.

Lamar Patrick Kemp, 15, was ordered held without bond during his arraignment hearing Wednesday in 54A District Court.

Kemp is a juvenile, but the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office chose to charge him as an adult.

“Unfortunately, this year we have experienced a number of youthful offenders illegally carrying guns and engaging in both fatal and non-fatal gun violence throughout Ingham County,” Prosecutor John Dewane said in a news release. “While Mr. Kemp is 15 years old, the decision to charge him as an adult was made after careful consideration of the nature of this offense and Mr. Kemp’s previous interactions with our court system.

“We continue to support our community partnerships to reduce and interrupt violent incidents in our community. However when individuals are driving violence and fear in our community, we will continue to utilize the legal system to promote community safety and hold these individuals responsible for their actions and the harm they have caused.”

Kemp is accused of shooting Ted Lawson, 63, Sunday afternoon in the 1100 block of North Jenison Avenue.

Lawson worked on many campaigns for Democrats locally and statewide over the years. He was a member of Ingham County’s Board of Canvassers and served as secretary for the Ingham County Democratic Party.

Police have released no information about what may have led to the shooting, but he was knocking on doors on the city’s north side, just a few blocks from his home, while canvassing for Lansing City Council at-large candidate Trini Lopez Pehlivanoglu when he was killed, the candidate said.

Dewane said that information appears to be true. But the killing does not appear to be connected in any way to Lawson’s political activities or beliefs, he said.

Court records did not list an attorney for Kemp.

A hearing to determine whether he should stand trial on the charges is tentatively set for Oct. 27.

Contact Ken Palmer at kpalmer@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBPalm_lsj.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Boy, 15, charged as adult in killing of Ted Lawson Sunday in north Lansing