3 Charged In Murder Of Waterford Man During Attempted Robbery

WATERFORD (WWJ) - Three men have been charged in the shooting death of a 22-year-old Waterford man.

Jacob Hershberger was killed early Saturday morning, shot once in the chest in girlfriend's apartment on Villa Drive during what police believe was a robbery attempt gone wrong.  He apparently overpowered one of the intruders but was shot by another.  Police said the woman was unharmed.

Accused in the shooting are 25-year-old Blake Marcum of Waterford, the alleged gunman; 22-year-old Donald Davis of Pontiac, and 20-year-old Terrance Bunting of Rochester.

Each was arrested Sunday and charged with felony murder, armed robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery. Bunting and Marcum face additional weapons charges.

At the arraignment Tuesday, the victim's parents spoke with reporters about their son.

"He had an aura about him," said father, Michael Hershberger. "When he smiled everyone was drawn to him. He was a great kid; he was loved by everybody, and I'm gonna miss him dearly."

Through tears, Mother Tonya Cach added, "My son was my entire life, and when he died part of me is dead, too. And I want everyone to know he died defending his girlfriend," Cach said. "He was a gorgeous, beautiful man, and he never hurt anybody in his entire life."

Marcum, Davis and Bunting were each remanded to the Oakland County Jail without bond, pending a preliminary hearing on Tuesday, Nov. 18.

All three face the possibility of life in prison if convicted.

"I want them to go away forever," said Cach, "and I want them to know that they took away a beautiful man who had a smile that would light up the whole world and it lit up every room he ever went into. There will never be anybody like Jacob ever again...I hope they rot in hell."