A grim escalation in Detroit's criminal violence has left an 11-year-old girl, Amara Glenn, fighting for her life after she was shot in the head while sleeping in her home. Detroit police have recently brought a fifth suspect into custody concerning the shooting which transpired earlier this week, as reported by FOX 2 Detroit. Over 20 shots were fired into the house on Pennsylvania near Gratiot and I-94, critically injuring young Lamara who was sleeping on a couch.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged multiple men in the drive-by shooting, warning of the continuing investigation that may see more defendants. "These senseless shootings are even more tragic when innocent people – especially children – are harmed," she said according to WXYZ. The suspects are reportedly linked to a car theft ring responsible for the theft of about 20 vehicles, which may include the involvement in a recent fatal shooting.
Detroit Police Chief James White confirmed in a press conference that investigators had been tracking a car theft ring which inadvertently led them to the suspects who used one of the stolen vehicles in the shooting. "We pursue those who are victims of our community," he misspoke while his intent was to communicate a relentless pursuit of attackers, particularly in the wake of the cowardly shootings targeting children, Hoodline reports.
Neighborhood anxiety was palpable as Salah AlMulaki, who moved into the area a year ago, shared his fears with WXYZ: "We worry at nighttime; we hear gunshots, and we lay down." In a city already dealing with the sting of violence, the Detroit Police Department is piecing together the complexity of criminal activities that culminated in this tragic event. With Amara Glenn's life hanging in the balance, the public has been urged to provide any information that might aid the law enforcement's ongoing investigation.
The suspects, as outlined by the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, face a series of charges. Among them, Tahkari Turner, 18, Robert Lee Turner Jr., 20, and Nasir Lavant Garrett, 19, are being charged with nine counts of Assault with Intent to Murder, among other charges, for their roles in the incident. Specific charges include Discharge in or at a Building Causing Serious Impairment and multiple counts of Felony Firearm, as WXYZ detailed. As detectives work to untangle the threads of criminality, the city holds onto the hope of justice for Amara and for the restoration of peace in their neighborhoods.
