A 15-year-old Loyola High School student, identified only as Tyler, died after being shot in the head at a Southfield hotel. The shooting occurred on Sunday, Feb. 11, at the Westin Hotel, where Tyler was attending a sleepover with four other teens. A family member confirmed he succumbed to his injuries overnight into Thursday following days on life support, FOX 2 Detroit reports.
According to the ClickOnDetroit coverage, an adult had rented a room for the teenagers before leaving them unsupervised. Police have since been trying to track down the renter for questioning. The scene turned grim when police discovered two guns on a 15-year-old suspect from Detroit. A stolen Glock with an extended magazine and laser sight, lifted out of Flint in June of the prior year, and another Glock with an extended magazine which currently has no record of ownership were seized by authorities.
The teen apprehended with the firearms has been charged with two counts of carrying a concealed weapon, but as of now, not directly in connection with Tyler's shooting. As Hoodline relayed, police are still piecing together the details of that fateful night. Authorities believe one of those recovered weapons was the gun used in the tragic incident.
Southfield Chief of Police Elvin V. Barren did not mince words when addressing the gravity of the situation to the public. "Whoever didn't secure those weapons and whoever rented the room, now there’s a huge huge chance that they can be liable because of the mere fact that the precedence has been set by the Jennifer Crumbley trial," Crime and Safety expert Darnell Blackburn commented, according to ClickOnDetroit. In addition to the weapons, police found indicators of drug use, including marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms, at the scene.
Loyola High School has made grief counselors available to students and staff coping with the loss of their peer. Southfield Police Department is urging anyone with information to come forward and contact them directly at 248-796-5500, referencing case number 24-5073. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.
