Monroe County Sheriff Troy Goodnough confirmed yesterday the identities of two 16-year-olds found shot to death outside of a vehicle in Raisinville Township as Faith Hamilton and Landon Lafond. The discovery, made along Heiss Road near Steffas Road, happened after Hamilton's uncle tracked her phone to the location. Both teenagers were students at Airport Community Schools and were reported to have been in a dating relationship. CBS News Detroit reported that writings found inside Lafond's vehicle suggested a grim intent to end both his and Hamilton's lives.
The Sheriff's Office has yet to classify the incident as a murder-suicide, pending the results from the coroner’s office. In comparison, an unrelated incident in Bedford Township, which involved the deaths of 17-year-old Gwendolyn Smith and 33-year-old Ryne Leist, is being treated as a homicide-suicide. Both Gwendolyn and Leist died from gunshot wounds, with Leist having worked as a bowling coach, and the suggestion of a relationship was implied. Goodnough stressed that there is no connection between the two cases, notwithstanding their close chronological proximity. CBS News Detroit quoted Goodnough saying, "It's been tragic. It's been a significant impact on our community."
After the announcement of the deaths, the Airport Community Schools superintendent extended sympathies to the families and friends impacted by the tragedy. Though school is on summer break, a crisis team was activated for those in need of support. According to WXYZ, the high school media center was made available for students and staff seeking assistance on Thursday.
There appears to be no threat to the community, as authorities continue their investigation into the circumstances that led to the deaths of Hamilton and Lafond. A GoFundMe account has been established to aid Hamilton's family during this difficult time. The area where the bodies were found, typically peaceful and quiet, has left residents like Tom Hannah surprised and concerned. Hannah told WXYZ, "I was actually down there yesterday on the golf cart just tooling around … and there was nothing down there then." Neighbors now face the unsettling reality that their community has been the backdrop for a human tragedy, which currently remains unclassified as investigators await more information.
