KALAMAZOO, Mich. — A man convicted in the 2021 home invasion and fatal shooting of a Kalamazoo resident has been sentenced to serve up to 70 years in prison.
Gerryon Kye, 33, was killed on June 26, 2021, when two masked intruders broke into his Rose Street home, demanded cash, and shot him.
On July 17, 2025, a jury found 24-year-old Isaiah Jacole Willhite guilty of murdering Kye. Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety (KDPS) officers announced that Willhite will serve a minimum of 42 years and a maximum of 70 years in prison. His sentence also includes penalties for home invasion and weapons charges.
Capt. Danielle Guilds, commander of KDPS’s Criminal Investigations Division, said, “This sentence represents a significant step forward for a family and community that has carried the weight of this loss for more than four years… While no sentence can replace a life taken, we hope today’s outcome offers some measure of closure for those who loved Mr. Kye.”
Authorities also noted that Julius Curtis Robinson Jr., another suspect in Kye’s death, is in custody in another state and awaiting extradition back to Michigan.
