Cash Reward Offered For Tips In Security Guard's Slaying
DETROIT (WWJ) - Crime Stoppers is putting up a cash reward for information that leads to arrests in the case of a 24-year-old security guard who was shot to death on the job in northwest Detroit.
Courtney Meeks, who dreamed of one day joining the FBI, was killed around 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 26 outside of a CVS Pharmacy on Schaefer Highway, just south of McNichols Road.
According to police, three men approached a 2002 Ford Taurus with a woman and a 6-year-old boy inside and ordered them out of the car. As the driver of the vehicle — another woman — was walking out of the store, she saw what was happening and ran back inside screaming for help. That's when Meeks sprung into action.
"When the security officer confronted the suspects, they fired one shot," Police Chief James Craig said.
Meeks, who was wearing a bulletproof vest, was shot in the neck. He was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The suspects took off in the woman's vehicle, which was recovered by police just blocks away on Cheyenne Street near Grove Street. A K-9 team was called to the scene, although investigators found no sign of the suspects.
Craig said the three suspects are believed to be responsible for an attempted carjacking that occurred just prior to shooting. In that incident, which took place around the block from the store on Hartwell Avenue, the suspects were unable to activate a vehicle's push-button ignition. Investigators believe the perpetrators went looking for another vehicle, which is how they ended up at the CVS.
Police have released security video that captured the incident, and believe the suspects live in the area where the crimes occurred.
The first suspect is described as a black male with a medium complexion, 20- to 25-years-old, 5'6" tall with a slim build and scruffy shadow-type beard. He was wearing a red coat with blue writing on it and a possible "SC logo, and a black skull cap.
The second suspect is described as a black male with a light complexion, 20- to 25-years-old, 5'6" tall with a slim build. He was wearing a black and gray winter coat and a skull cap.
The third suspect, who is wanted in connection with the carjacking attempt, is a black male with a medium complexion, about 18-years-old and 5'8" tall with a slim build. He was wearing a dark tan coat with a hood.
Anyone with information in the case is urged to contact Detroit police at 313-596-2260.
Tips can also be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP, online at www.1800speakup.org, or by texting "CSM" and your tip to CRIMES (274637).
