Suspect in eight-victim shooting 'strategically staged' guns around his home

The suspect in a Sunday shooting that left two dead and six others wounded over a parking dispute had a military background and "strategically staged" guns around his home, Detroit Police Chief James White said during a Monday news conference.

A household across from street from the gunman's home was hosting a birthday party when the suspect engaged in a dispute with the neighbor, apparently about parking, in the early hours of Sunday morning, White said.

Instead of calling police,White said the suspect "decided to take matters into his own hands, ultimately shooting up the home."

The suspect — a man in his 30s — allegedly fired a high-powered gun numerous times from the first and second floors of his home at the house across the street.

Police did not yet identify the suspect, who was arrested Sunday., nor the victims, but did say one victim who died was a 38-year-old man and the other a 39-year-old woman. They attempted to get to a hospital in a private vehicle, but crashed near McNichols and Greenfield roads before being transported by ambulance. One was pronounced dead Sunday. The other died Monday.

The youngest victim wounded was 19. At least one victim was left in critical condition.

White said responding officers went inside the suspect's home, where he ultimately surrendered himself to police. Eleven guns were recovered from the home. The suspect was taken into custody without further incident and charges were pending.

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"(Police) recovered 11 weapons, again, 11 weapons, from his home that were strategically placed throughout the home so as he moved through the home, he would have access to these weapons," White said.

White did not disclose details of the gun used in the shooting, the guns retrieved, or the number of times shots were fired. The gun used was described as "high-powered."

After Sunday's shooting, White said he directed all felony weapons arrests be sent for federal review to Dawn Ison, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern district of Michigan and a native Detroiter.

“We are very serious about this, and we’re not playing around," White said. "This country's obsession with weapons and mass shootings. This is unacceptable, and we can do better and we have to do better."

A call to action

White, community organizers from Ceasefire Detroit, City Council President Mary Sheffield and others spoke of teamwork needed to combat gun violence in the city, calling yet another news conference on gun violence "a call to action."

"The community is tired. This is out of control," said Quincy Smith of Ceasefire Detroit. "How many more press conferences like this? How many more scenes? How many more hospital visits, burials that we have to go through? Our children, our youth, our community is under attack. Everyone should be  outraged."

"Everyone should feel the weight of responsibility to do something. Get involved. There is no more time for sitting on the sidelines. Not being vocal. Not reaching out. Not being a mentor. Not saying something. Not standing up for those who don't have a voice. The time for that is over. We need the community to stand up."

Quincy emphasized that resources through Ceasefire and other community organizations are available to help combat gun violence. Eric Doeh, president of the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network, also emphasized mental health resources that are available.

White said overall violent crime is on the decline in the city, pointing to department data that indicates homicides are down 5% and non fatal shootings have decreased 15% compared to this time last year.

But this past weekend was particularly bloody.

White said there were 24 nonfatal shootings and seven homicides in the city over the weekend.

He pointed to a number of disturbing recent incidents of gun violence: Two 14-year-old girls were injured in a drive-by shooting while at a birthday party Sunday on the 8600 block of Penrod Street.

And last week, a 13-year-old was fatally shot in southwest Detroit over a cellphone that may have been stolen. On Monday, a 16-year-old was charged as an adult with first-degree murder in the case.

"Detroit families are in pain, neighbors near the gunfire shaken and lives have been forever changed," White said. "... No one needs to live like this. Our community deserves better and we must do better as a community for our own safety and for each other's safety."

Andrea Sahouri covers criminal justice for the Detroit Free Press. She can be contacted at asahouri@freepress.com or on Twitter @andreamsahouri. 

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Suspect in Detroit shooting of eight guns around home