Violent Weekend: 1 Dead, 6 Hurt In Separate Shootings In Detroit
DETROIT (WWJ) - It was a hot weekend that proved violent in Detroit where separate shootings at outdoor gatherings killed one person and sent six more to the hospital.
Police said three people were shot during a picnic involving several hundred people Sunday night at Maheras-Gentry Park on the city's east side. A man was reported in critical condition and two other people were stable condition Monday morning. Police are looking for two suspects in that shooting.
Separately, police said a 19-year-old man died and two other people were wounded in a shooting early Monday morning as a weekend-long block party was wrapping up, near city airport. Police are looking for a black-colored Chevy Impala with the three suspects in that crime that apparently stemmed from a robbery attempt.
Marsayvia Jackson, a friend of the young victim who was gunned down while he and two other victims were sitting in a car, at the corner of Earvin and Woodlawn, was in tears as she spoke to reporters at the scene.
"You just can't go nowhere and just have a good time without the violence. It's always gotta be violence. I don't know why, but they need to stop this! Stop it!" she shouted. "This is ridiculous! Having to lose somebody, having to bury somebody, is ridiculous!"
Detroit Police Sergeant Cassandra Lewis said they have been able to get some witness cooperation in that case.
Her message for Detroiters: Cooler heads need to prevail.
"We want people to realize that violence is not the way to settle disagreements," she said. "We understand that more people are out in the summer."
Lewis said the "snitches get stitches" mentality you hear about doesn't prevent them from doing their jobs — but police still need the community's help to fight crime.
"We investigate everything thoroughly and we do close cases," Lewis said. "It just is a great assist when we can have the community come together with us and work on this together."
In a third shooting, Sunday afternoon, one person was injured at the Adams Butzel Recreation Center where the gunman was brought into custody.
This past weekend's violence comes after shootings at two block parties in June. Police have said they're concerned about potential violence at such gatherings.
Anyone with information about any of these crimes is asked to call Detroit Police or Crime Stoppers with an anonymous tip at 1-800-SPEAK UP.
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