Cass County law enforcement announced Thursday that open murder charges have been authorized by Prosecutor Victor Fitz’s office regarding Wednesday, April 14’s, homicide of 28-year-old Darius Nickens outside where he lived at 210 Grand Blvd.

The incident occurred shortly after 5 p.m., prompting an investigation by Dowagiac Police Department, assisted by Cass County Sheriff Joe Underwood’s office.

The charged subject is Jaren Terrell Wade, who is almost 20, of Dowagiac. According to the warrant, his permanent address is 420 E. Railroad St., Apt. 26.

He was born April 30, 1991.

Wade remains at large and may have fled Michigan.

A vehicle stolen in Dowagiac from near the scene of the shooting was recovered near a motel in Elkhart, Ind.

It was abandoned, but authorities said they are able to “connect the suspect to that vehicle.”

Public Safety Director Tom Atkinson described Wade as a dark-skinned black male, 5-foot-10 tall and weighing approximately 160 pounds, with medium brown eyes and black hair.

Any citizens with information concerning this incident or Wade’s whereabouts are encouraged to contact Dowagiac Police Department at (269) 782-9743 or the crime tip line at 1-800-462-9328.

“He should be considered dangerous and may be armed,” Atkinson told reporters at a 4:30 press conference in the council chamber at Dowagiac City Hall. “Jaren Wade is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”

Fitz said, “Felony charges have been brought, including a charge of open murder. This warrant was sworn out this afternoon in front of a Cass County magistrate by the Dowagiac Police Department.

“The charges contain seven separate charges,” Fitz said. “Open murder is a crime in Michigan which carries with it the potential of a conviction for either first-degree murder, second-degree murder, manslaughter or felony murder. Also, in addition to the charge of murder, there is a charge of carrying a weapon with unlawful intent. That refers to a firearm. Count 3 is carrying a concealed weapon either in a vehicle or on the individual’s person, that being Mr. Wade.” The warrant specifies a pistol.

Count 4 “is a charge of unlawfully driving away a motor vehicle,” the prosecutor said. “The remaining counts are felony firearms charges, which each carry a penalty of up to two years. He may have fled Michigan. There are indications he may have been in the Elkhart area recently. We encourage citizens to call the tip line or the Dowagiac Police Department if they do have any other information. Under our rules of professional conduct, we are limited in what we can say at this point in regard to the facts in the case.”

“From what we can determine,” Chief Atkinson said, “they were friends and had a relationship from growing up as kids together, those kinds of contacts. It was not a stranger homicide.”

As for what precipitated the incident and whether some sort of altercation or exchange of words preceded it, “Those are facts we expect will come out during official court proceedings,” the prosecutor said. “Documents obviously indicate a firearm was used.”

He declined to say if a pistol had been recovered.

Asked if the incident revolved around a woman both men dated, Atkinson answered, “We haven’t been able to determine that yet. We have a lot more follow-up.”

“This is very early in the investigation,” Fitz said. “Charges have been authorized, but investigation is ongoing in a case of this magnitude. We expect facts to continue to come in. As indicated, we encourage citizens to call in, not only with the whereabouts of Mr. Wade, but any further information about the facts of this incident.”

Characterizing the Michigan charges for Indiana television stations, the prosecutor commented, “They are authorized by the prosecutor and immediately go to a magistrate to swear out a probable cause warrant. The next stage would be an arraignment upon the apprehension of Mr. Wade. Within 12 days, unless otherwise determined by the court, there will be a preliminary examination” of evidence, which is a “second probable cause hearing.”

Wade’s prior record “does have a number of previous adjudications as both an adult and a juvenile,” Fitz stated, adding, “All leads are being pursued.”

Atkinson said it was probably the city’s first homicide in three years.