nthfinity
06-25-2004, 03:25 PM
Report: Arrest Made In Hart Plaza Shootings
Police Search For Alleged Accomplice
POSTED: 8:00 pm EDT June 24, 2004
UPDATED: 2:13 pm EDT June 25, 2004
Police arrested a man Thursday night suspected of shooting nine people at the International Freedom Festival Fireworks in downtown Detroit, according to Local 4 reports.
Officers from the Detroit Police Violent Crimes Task Force arrested a man in his early 30s at a barber shop on Dexter and Tyler streets on the city's west side.
"We're here tonight to tell you that we have a suspect in custody, in his early 30s, that we believe is responsible for the shootings last night," said Detroit Police Chief Ella Bully-Cummings during an 11 p.m. news conference.
The chief said that several witnesses identified the man as the shooter.
Police are now searching for a second man, Gary Williams, who may have been an accomplice in the shooting, Bully-Cummings said. The chief added that Williams is currently one of Michigan's most wanted for a shooting at Watts Club Mozambique on Fenkell Street in July of 2003.
Shots rang out at Woodward and Jefferson, near the Joe Louis Fist statue, just as the fireworks display began at 10:17 p.m. Wednesday, Local 4 reported. Police crime tape surrounded the area near the illuminated Hart Plaza sign on Woodward Avenue.
The man reportedly left behind his weapon, a 9 mm semi-automatic gun with one bullet left in the clip. The serial number on the gun was scratched off, which typically is a sign that the weapon was stolen, the station reported. There were partial fingerprints found on the gun, according to reports.
Detroit police, with the assistance of agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, were reviewing videotapes from local media, home video from spectators and surveillance video from cameras on the City-County Building and other nearby businesses, the station reported.
The chief asked Thursday morning that anyone with still photographs or videos of the fireworks Wednesday night that may have captured the incident should come forward. A woman with a digital camera reportedly responded with photographs that Bully-Cummings called "people of interest" -- who were in the vicinity at the time of the shooting -- who they are looking to talk to in their investigation.
Police believe Gary Williams is an accomplice to the shootings at Hart Plaza. He's also wanted in connection with a shooting at a Detroit nightclub in 2003.
Bully-Cummings said in a 5 p.m. press conference Thursday that the mother of the two pictured in those photos brought her children to police.
"That just tells you the community has to resolve this matter also," she said.
The two were questioned and released. The chief emphasized that they are not suspects in the shooting.
Bully-Cummings said the department received at least 30 calls within a 12-hour period, at least five of those being of significance.
"We have some very good leads and I am confident that as we pursue those leads, if they in fact produce results, hopefully we'll be able to close this matter shortly," she said.
Local 4 spoke to witnesses who said they believe there was some sort of altercation over a woman that took place that prompted a man to start shooting into the crowd. Other witnesses told police that the incident could have been over a pair of expensive sunglasses.
The victims of the shooting, whose ages range from 17 to 47 years old, include: Shari Ridley and Louis Nelson, who were listed in critical condition; Aaron Edmondson, who was upgraded from critical to fair condition; Donald Murphy, Laurie Foster and Evonne Everette, who were listed in fair condition; and Brandon Patterson, Bevan Bryant and Andrea Malone who were treated and released, Local 4 learned.
A bullet struck Louis Nelson in a lung, pierced his heart and lodged into the other lung. He's in critical condition.
When Nelson arrived at the hospital, he had no vital signs, but paramedics were able to revive him, the station reported. A bullet struck Nelson in a lung, pierced his heart and lodged into the other lung, according to reports.
"He can't talk because he's got a tube in his throat, but he was writing (his mother) a note today saying he wanted to see his friends and family," said Tracey Nelson, the victim's sister.
Donald Murphy's twin brother, Ronald, said he sensed something was wrong while he was watching the fireworks from the Penobscot Building Wednesday night.
"It felt like something strange, like something was empty, like I was missing something and it was like, 'Something is not right,'" he said.
Edmondson, 17, apparently persuaded his parents, Jerome and Alena, to allow him and some of his friends to attend the fireworks celebration. The couple said they now regret that decision, Local 4 reported.
The bullet that struck Edmondson lodged into his chest and doctors say they may not be able to remove it because it's so close to his heart, the station reported.
The Edmondsons told Local 4 that after their son is released from the hospital, the family will move to Atlanta. Jerome Edmondson said someone on behalf of the city has to take responsibility for the shooting.
"I've got a kid with a bullet lodged in his chest, enjoying the festivities in downtown Detroit. I can't put my children's lives at risk trying to rebuild Detroit," he said.
Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick spoke from the Manoogian Mansion Thursday morning about the shooting, stressing that he does not believe the incident will tarnish the city's reputation.
"This is not who we are. This is who he is," Kilpatrick said about the gunman
so unfortunate; Downtown has always been a great place to be, and not anywhere near dangerous. its unfortunate that this gunman didnt feel the same as the wako canadian posted about earlier.
Police Search For Alleged Accomplice
POSTED: 8:00 pm EDT June 24, 2004
UPDATED: 2:13 pm EDT June 25, 2004
Police arrested a man Thursday night suspected of shooting nine people at the International Freedom Festival Fireworks in downtown Detroit, according to Local 4 reports.
Officers from the Detroit Police Violent Crimes Task Force arrested a man in his early 30s at a barber shop on Dexter and Tyler streets on the city's west side.
"We're here tonight to tell you that we have a suspect in custody, in his early 30s, that we believe is responsible for the shootings last night," said Detroit Police Chief Ella Bully-Cummings during an 11 p.m. news conference.
The chief said that several witnesses identified the man as the shooter.
Police are now searching for a second man, Gary Williams, who may have been an accomplice in the shooting, Bully-Cummings said. The chief added that Williams is currently one of Michigan's most wanted for a shooting at Watts Club Mozambique on Fenkell Street in July of 2003.
Shots rang out at Woodward and Jefferson, near the Joe Louis Fist statue, just as the fireworks display began at 10:17 p.m. Wednesday, Local 4 reported. Police crime tape surrounded the area near the illuminated Hart Plaza sign on Woodward Avenue.
The man reportedly left behind his weapon, a 9 mm semi-automatic gun with one bullet left in the clip. The serial number on the gun was scratched off, which typically is a sign that the weapon was stolen, the station reported. There were partial fingerprints found on the gun, according to reports.
Detroit police, with the assistance of agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, were reviewing videotapes from local media, home video from spectators and surveillance video from cameras on the City-County Building and other nearby businesses, the station reported.
The chief asked Thursday morning that anyone with still photographs or videos of the fireworks Wednesday night that may have captured the incident should come forward. A woman with a digital camera reportedly responded with photographs that Bully-Cummings called "people of interest" -- who were in the vicinity at the time of the shooting -- who they are looking to talk to in their investigation.
Police believe Gary Williams is an accomplice to the shootings at Hart Plaza. He's also wanted in connection with a shooting at a Detroit nightclub in 2003.
Bully-Cummings said in a 5 p.m. press conference Thursday that the mother of the two pictured in those photos brought her children to police.
"That just tells you the community has to resolve this matter also," she said.
The two were questioned and released. The chief emphasized that they are not suspects in the shooting.
Bully-Cummings said the department received at least 30 calls within a 12-hour period, at least five of those being of significance.
"We have some very good leads and I am confident that as we pursue those leads, if they in fact produce results, hopefully we'll be able to close this matter shortly," she said.
Local 4 spoke to witnesses who said they believe there was some sort of altercation over a woman that took place that prompted a man to start shooting into the crowd. Other witnesses told police that the incident could have been over a pair of expensive sunglasses.
The victims of the shooting, whose ages range from 17 to 47 years old, include: Shari Ridley and Louis Nelson, who were listed in critical condition; Aaron Edmondson, who was upgraded from critical to fair condition; Donald Murphy, Laurie Foster and Evonne Everette, who were listed in fair condition; and Brandon Patterson, Bevan Bryant and Andrea Malone who were treated and released, Local 4 learned.
A bullet struck Louis Nelson in a lung, pierced his heart and lodged into the other lung. He's in critical condition.
When Nelson arrived at the hospital, he had no vital signs, but paramedics were able to revive him, the station reported. A bullet struck Nelson in a lung, pierced his heart and lodged into the other lung, according to reports.
"He can't talk because he's got a tube in his throat, but he was writing (his mother) a note today saying he wanted to see his friends and family," said Tracey Nelson, the victim's sister.
Donald Murphy's twin brother, Ronald, said he sensed something was wrong while he was watching the fireworks from the Penobscot Building Wednesday night.
"It felt like something strange, like something was empty, like I was missing something and it was like, 'Something is not right,'" he said.
Edmondson, 17, apparently persuaded his parents, Jerome and Alena, to allow him and some of his friends to attend the fireworks celebration. The couple said they now regret that decision, Local 4 reported.
The bullet that struck Edmondson lodged into his chest and doctors say they may not be able to remove it because it's so close to his heart, the station reported.
The Edmondsons told Local 4 that after their son is released from the hospital, the family will move to Atlanta. Jerome Edmondson said someone on behalf of the city has to take responsibility for the shooting.
"I've got a kid with a bullet lodged in his chest, enjoying the festivities in downtown Detroit. I can't put my children's lives at risk trying to rebuild Detroit," he said.
Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick spoke from the Manoogian Mansion Thursday morning about the shooting, stressing that he does not believe the incident will tarnish the city's reputation.
"This is not who we are. This is who he is," Kilpatrick said about the gunman
so unfortunate; Downtown has always been a great place to be, and not anywhere near dangerous. its unfortunate that this gunman didnt feel the same as the wako canadian posted about earlier.