2 dead, 19 injured after shooting at block party on Detroit's east side, reports say

Two people were killed and 19 others injured in a shooting early Sunday morning at a block party on Detroit's east side.

UPDATE: Detroit police announce block party crackdown after shooting that kills 2, injures 19

The shooting took place in the 13000 block of Rossini Drive, near the intersection with Reno Street, according to a news release from the Detroit Police Department. An earlier news release from Michigan State Police, which is assisting in the investigation, said there were 19 people injured and two fatalities.

A 20-year-old woman, who was shot in the head, and a 21-year-old man, who was shot in the back, were killed, according to WDIV-TV (Channel 4), which reported the woman was pronounced dead at the scene and the man pronounced dead at the hospital.

Among the injured were a 17-year-old girl in critical condition, 13 people in temporary serious condition and three in stable condition, according to WDIV.

No suspects were in custody, according to MSP.

“The violence at several block parties over the last three days has been heartbreaking for this city," Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said in a statement to the Free Press Sunday afternoon. "Young people and innocent neighbors are being put at risk every weekend. Chief (James) White and I will hold a full briefing tomorrow to discuss this spike in violence at these events and our plans to address it,"

John Roach, Duggan spokesman, said they understood there were other instances of violence at other block parties over the weekend. Specific details were not immediately available.

The topic will be addressed at a press conference on Monday, DPD spokesperson Cpl. Dan Donakowski told the Free Press.

City Councilman Scott Benson lives just a couple of blocks away from where the shooting took place and said he was "shaken" on Sunday.

He was asleep when it happened but he’s heard of a block party spilling over, yelling, and screams for help in reports from his community leaders.

He was told multiple guns were recovered from the scene — nine, according to his information.

He questioned why anyone would feel the need to bring a gun to a block party.

"Phone, keys, gun? Why is the gun on the list?" he said.

Even in his military career, the number of people harmed overnight stood out, Benson said. And he was thinking of the children and community members who live in the neighborhood.

Everyone in the community needs to come together to fight this violence, Benson said. He said conversations are already happening about moving citizen patrols to different hours so they can spot potential issues and alert police at the times when such shootings more often take place. He’s also aware of police communications on cracking down on block parties.

He hopes those in Lansing and at the federal level also act, saying there has to be a solution on access to guns.

The fact that the perpetrators could still be on the loose "feels terrible," Benson said.

"We can’t continue to have this level of violence," he said.

State Rep. Mai Xiong, D-Warren, whose district includes the area, said the community must "unite and make meaningful action to prevent these occurrences."

“I am deeply saddened and heartbroken by the recent shooting near Detroit’s northeast side," Xiong said in a statement. "My heart goes out to the victims, their families and everyone affected by this senseless act of violence. During what should have been a joyous celebration during Independence Day weekend, we are instead faced with a devastating reminder that gun violence is hitting too close to home, right in our own backyards.

“As a community, we should be coming together to enjoy each other’s company and celebrate the liberties we cherish, not living in fear of such tragedies. This incident underscores the urgent need to address gun violence and work towards creating a safer environment for all.

“Together, we can and must find solutions to ensure that our neighborhoods are safe havens where families can thrive without fear. Let us honor the victims by committing to this vital cause and working tirelessly to bring about change.”

On the scene

Along Rossini Drive from Reno Street to Holt Avenue, yellow tape, police cars, DPD and MSP officers filled the area Sunday along with a mix of residents, reporters and Community Violence Intervention groups.

Among them were George Preston, the president of the Mohican Regent Homeowners Association, which organizes monthly meetings to encourage residents to come up with solutions that affect their community. At these meetings are legislators, community leaders and residents.

"It's heartbreaking to see that someone has lost their life here," Preston said. "The city is not giving us the funds to deal with things people have been doing out of their pocket. … Blight and crime are the two biggest issues. … if we can impact the blight, people feel better about their community."

Preston says he, along with other CVI groups, plan on sitting down with residents after the police and cameras leave, to talk and listen to them about concerns over this shooting and overall in the neighborhood.

Jalen Williams is an intern at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 2 dead, 19 injured after shooting on Detroit's east side, MSP reports