DETROIT (DDN) – A Detroit man has been accused in connection with a fatal shooting at an illegal block party in Detroit last summer, according to police. The incident occurred at 2:25 a.m. on July 7 in the neighborhood of Reno Street and Rossini Drive, near East State Fair and Gratiot avenues, where hundreds had congregated for what police described as an unauthorized block party.
Shanae Fletcher, 20, of Harrison Township, and Phillip Arnold, 21, of Detroit, were murdered in the incident, authorities said. According to police, the gunshot injured 19 additional people, all of them were between the ages of 16 and 24.
Demitrus Tiwan Shaw, 19, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, 19 counts of assault with intent to murder, and 21 counts of felony firearm. He was jailed on a $1 million bond. His next court date is scheduled for January 21. If convicted on the murder charges, he may face life in jail.
Police say hundreds of people gathered in a Detroit area for a block party that was not approved by city officials. They stated the party was organized on social media, and some people came from 50 kilometers away.
According to authorities, Shaw pulled out a revolver during the party and fired multiple times into the crowd, killing Fletcher and Arnold and injuring 19 others before fleeing. Officers discovered nine guns at the site, including a Glock switch, which converts a gun into an automatic weapon, officials said.
Police estimated over 100 rounds were fired, and more than 300 persons were involved in the shooting, making it one of the “largest mass shooting” episodes in Detroit and Michigan history.
According to authorities, the party was declared illegal for a variety of reasons, including the loud music playing at the time of night and the fact that partygoers obstructed the street.
Since then, police have cracked down on unlawful block parties in the city, employing at least 80 policemen to patrol neighborhoods for illegal parking, unruly behavior, and persons carrying weapons.
Police are still investigating the shooting and have encouraged anyone with information to contact the Detroit Police Department at 313-596-5840 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAKUP.
Reference: Man Charged In Detroit Mass Shooting That Killed 2, Injured 19: Police
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