Naman Shrestha
On a fateful night in March 2022, the sound of gunshots filled the peaceful neighborhood near Taft Avenue Southwest in Wyoming, Michigan. Upon investigation, the police found the remains of 27-year-old Kwan Winston, whose death rocked the entire community to its core.
Kwan Winston Was Found Dead in His Wyoming City Apartment
Kwan Andre Winston Jr. was born sometime in the mid-90s in a household packed with loving members. He grew up surrounded by the love and care of his family members and shared a close-knit bond with his mother, Tekeshon Nelson. Though there is not much information about his early life, we know that he was adored by all members of his family, particularly his great-aunt Lucille Nelson. Just like any other kid, he was taught the importance of hard work, compassion, and honesty to become a responsible young man. According to his family, he lived by the principles and went on to become a kind individual.
By the age of 27, Kwan was not only in a relationship but had also embraced fatherhood. He had been dating Sakina Legacy Halimah Muhammad for several years, and the two had taken the next step in their relationship by moving in together. Along with their beautiful daughter, Ayvah Nyre Winston, the pair resided in a flat at 2924 Taft Avenue Southwest in the city of Wyoming in Kent County, Michigan. The world of both Kwan and Sakina revolved around their 11-month-old child. However, their world came crashing down on March 13, 2022.
According to records, Sakina’s mother called 911 on the fateful night and requested a welfare check at the residence of her 21-year-old daughter and Kwan. She reported sensing something was wrong while speaking to Sakina over the phone and grew concerned for her safety. When the police arrived at their apartment around 10 pm, they discovered Kwan at the base of the staircase, with a gunshot wound to his head. The 27-year-old was positioned against the door. The authorities also obtained a single shell casing on the steps. Meanwhile, both Sakina and Ayvah were nowhere to be seen.
Kwan Winston Had a Volatile Relationship With the Killer
As part of the investigation, the detectives wasted no time whatsoever and dug deep into the personal life of Kwan Winston in order to get a clear picture of the circumstances surrounding his untimely and tragic demise. After talking to his loved ones, the authorities learned that his relationship with Sakina Muhammad was far from perfect. Although they shared a child together, the couple used to get into heated arguments every once in a while, heard by their neighbors in their Wyoming, Michigan, apartment. In fact, a couple of months before the murder, Sakina filed a domestic violence complaint against him after he allegedly assaulted her. She claimed that he strangled her a couple of times, making it hard for her to breathe.
On January 16, Kwan was taken into custody for assault with the intent to commit great bodily harm less than murder or strangulation. Later, the charge was reduced, and on January 19, he was arraigned on charges of aggravated assault and domestic violence. On March 2, Kwan pleaded no contest to the charges against him, including a second charge of aggravated assault-domestic violence for allegedly strangling his girlfriend in March 2020. Facing a sentencing hearing on March 28, 2022, Kwan was ordered not to have any contact with Sakina. However, at the time of his murder, the couple was living together in their apartment.
Despite Claiming Self-Defense, the Shooter Was Taken Into Custody
Upon interviewing a few neighbors of the victim, the police learned that Kwan and Sakina were allegedly involved in a verbal argument before it turned fatal. One of the neighbors testified that Kwan was “begging for his life, basically, ‘Please, let me go'” and Sakina replied, “‘No, bro, you’re dead,'” and “‘Yo bro, you’re gonna die.'” Moreover, half an hour prior to the killing, Sakina also uploaded a suspicious post on her social media, writing, “Single as a mf (mother******).” While the investigators were searching for Sakina, the prime suspect, and her daughter, Ayvah Nyre Winston, she reportedly turned herself in the following day, on March 14, 2022. She was taken into custody and questioned about the killing.
During her interrogation, Sakina told the detectives that she feared for her life as Kwan choked her and had acted in self-defense. She claimed that somehow she managed to get her hands on the gun kept on the top shelf of a closet and fired it at her boyfriend, before fleeing the scene with her daughter. However, the shooter changed several aspects of her story multiple times when cross-questioned by the detectives. Ultimately, she was charged with first-degree murder and felony firearm in connection with the murder of Kwan Winston at their apartment in Wyoming, Michigan.
Sakina Muhammad is Currently Incarcerated at a Michigan Prison Facility
More than one and a half years later, in November 2023, the trial of Sakina Legacy Halimah Muhammad got underway. The prosecution presented a series of evidence and witnesses against the defendant in front of the jury. Meanwhile, the defense argued that Sakina had acted in self-defense and shot Kwan Winston only because she feared for her life. After three days of testimony, the jury rejected the self-defense claim and found her guilty of first-degree murder and felony firearm on November 16, 2023. A couple of months later, on January 17, 2024, the sentencing hearing took place.
During the hearing, Kwan’s mother, Tekeshon Nelson, took the stand and opened up about the case. She addressed the killer of her son, saying, “You deserve what you deserve. Karma has no expiration date. Nor does Karma discriminate. 674 days we’ve been living with a hole in our hearts.” In the end, she voiced her demand to the judge as she said, “Throw that b**** in the grinder.” The convict also took the stand and said,”I just want to say sorry to my daughter.” Finally, Sakina Muhammad was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. As of today, she is serving her life term at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
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