19 Shots, 2 dead at Detroit block party: All the information that we have
The events leading up to the shooting on Sunday, July 7, on Detroit’s east side remain under investigation by police.
This is all the information we have as of Monday morning.
Use the video player above to watch the press conference live after 11 a.m.
Shooting details
Last weekend, there was a block party near East State Fair and Gratiot avenues, at Reno Street and Rossini Drive. On Sunday, July 7, at least one person started shooting at the gathering about 2:25 a.m.
Numerous persons were hit, though it was not immediately apparent how many rounds were fired overall. According to the police, 19 individuals were shot and hurt, and two persons died.
What is known about the victims
Authorities have stated that the two victims were in their early 20s. As of early Monday morning, their identities remained a secret.
The ages of the other 19 victims who were shot range from 17 to 28. Nor were their identities revealed at this point.
Has someone been taken into custody?
As of Sunday, according to Michigan State Police, no arrests had been made. As of this writing, officials had not released an update, thus it is unknown if any arrests had taken place on Monday morning.
On Monday, July 8, at 11 a.m., authorities were supposed to hold a press conference during which they would probably disclose further information regarding this. The conference is available to stream live on ClickOnDetroit.com and Local 4+.
What precipitated the gunfire?
What transpired over the weekend was still being looked into by the police. It took some time for the specifics of the shooting to become apparent.
According to neighbors, the shooting wasn’t necessary. They informed Local 4. A man who was at the block party named Marco Bellinnie told Local 4′s Victor Williams that when people heard the gunshots, they initially thought they may be fireworks and were just trying to have fun.
Bellinnie claimed he noticed “the panic in everyone” and realized what was truly going on by looking around.
A man who lives a few doors down, Cliff Dykes, claimed to have heard the gunfire and shouting at the scene. The neighbors’ voices can be heard in Victor’s report, which is below.
Detroit officials are irate.
On Monday, July 8, a joint press conference with Detroit police Chief James White and Mayor Mike Duggan was planned.
11 a.m. is when the hearing is set to begin. You can watch it live by clicking this link or by using our Local 4+ streaming app.
It was anticipated that Duggan and White will talk about the incident on Sunday as well as a “comprehensive new strategy regarding block parties.”
In a statement, Duggan stated, “The violence at several block parties over the last three days has been heartbreaking for this city.” Every weekend, innocent neighbors and young people are at risk. Tomorrow, Chief White and I will have a comprehensive briefing to talk about the recent uptick in violence at these gatherings and our strategies for dealing with it.
The shooting at the block party occurs during a tumultuous Fourth of July weekend in many American states. Summertime is always a spike in violence and mass shootings, particularly around July Fourth. Researchers attribute the cause to a confluence of variables, such as an increase in social gatherings and alcohol intake.(News Source)