In a turn of events that marks the culmination of a two-year investigation, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen D. McDonald has formally charged Nino Denzel-Wesley Red, a 32-year-old Detroit man, with First Degree murder in connection to the 2022 killing of David Willis II. Included in the charges are three firearms offenses, as detailed in a recent report from the Oakland County Government website.
The incident in question occurred shortly after midnight on December 19, 2022, when Willis was reportedly engaged in a verbal altercation in the parking lot of a Madison Heights restaurant. It was there that Red is alleged to have opened fire from an SUV, fatally striking Willis multiple times before making his escape. "Madison Heights Police and FBI refused to give up on this case. Thanks to their efforts over the last two years, we now have an opportunity to bring David Willis' killer to justice," McDonald stated, as noted by the Oakland County Government.
The combined forces of Madison Heights Police and the FBI's Gang and Violent Crimes Task Force dedicated themselves to this case, eventually identifying Red as the alleged perpetrator. Police Chief Brent LeMerise emphasized the importance of interagency coordination, stating, "The cooperative effort between the Madison Heights Police Department and the FBI Gang and Violent Crimes Task Force enabled the detectives to complete their investigation and present the case to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office who authorized charges against the suspect in this incident." He expressed hope that the recent developments will help to deliver some measure of closure for Willis' family, as stated by the Oakland County Government.
First-degree murder can lead to life in prison without parole, a serious punishment for a serious crime. On top of that, a felony firearm charge could add two more years, served after the murder sentence. Since Red is already a felon, having an illegal weapon could mean another two-year sentence, also served consecutively. As the law requires, Red is presumed innocent until proven guilty, as per the Oakland County Government.
