Detroit police are currently investigating a shooting incident that took place near Martin Luther King Jr. High School last Thursday night. Shots were fired around 8:26 p.m. in the high school's parking lot, located on the 3200 block of East Lafayette. An individual, described as a Black male wearing a white zip-up, has been identified by police as a person of interest, according to CBS News.
At the time of the shooting, several teenagers were present in the parking lot, but no injuries reported. As part of the ongoing investigation, Detroit authorities are calling for witnesses to come forward with any relevant information. Tips can be submitted by contacting the DPD's 7th Precinct, CrimeStoppers, or DetroitRewards.tv. ClickOnDetroit reports several shell casings were found at the scene, marking the gravity of the situation.
The incident occurred during a prom send-off event, which devolved into chaos as shots rang out, causing students in their celebratory attire to flee. "It was hectic, scary, and chaotic with kids running in different directions," Davon Hall, a witness capturing the prom event, told FOX 2 Detroit. Hall's testimony painted a picture of the bedlam, noting "Police just sitting there" as the secure area turned into a scene of disorder in an instant.
In the aftermath, local leaders have expressed their distress and are calling for action. "When bullets fly people die. We can’t have a shooting around a school, around a prom, around a graduation - anything like that," Maurice Hardwick, who is known as Pastor Mo and works with the Living Peace Movement, as obtained by FOX 2 Detroit.
