Yesterday, near I-696 in Warren turned into a crime scene and then a rolling police operation, after what neighbors described as an attempted firebombing and shooting at a house just before 10 a.m. Four suspects are now in custody after masked individuals allegedly poured an accelerant along the side of a home and fired several shots before bolting to a waiting silver SUV. Police from multiple departments joined the chase, which wound through Warren and ended in Roseville. Remarkably, no injuries were reported.
What neighbors say and video evidence
According to WXYZ, witnesses saw two men dressed head-to-toe in black walk up to the house on Champaign near I-696 and Schoenherr, each carrying what looked like two-liter bottles. Cellphone video shared with reporters shows one of the men pouring a liquid that police believe was an accelerant along the side of the home. Neighbors said gunshots rang out as the suspects walked away. Several residents pulled out their phones and recorded parts of the chaos, giving investigators multiple angles to review as they piece together what happened.
Chase and dramatic arrests
Witnesses told reporters the suspects sprinted back to a silver SUV and took off, sparking a pursuit that cut through Warren and into neighboring Roseville. A bystander described seeing "25 to 30 cop cars" swarm the vehicle as officers boxed it in and moved on the suspects. Police detained three people from the SUV and took a fourth into custody separately, TV20 Detroit reports. The chase came to an end in the area of Groesbeck to Industrial Street and Parkway in Roseville.
Police: no active threat, investigation ongoing
Authorities say there is no active threat to the community at this time, and the investigation is still very much in progress. As of Tuesday afternoon, officials had not released the names of the four people taken into custody or announced any formal charges, according to WXYZ. Detectives from Warren and Roseville are expected to coordinate on evidence collection, including a close review of the cellphone videos neighbors captured.
Neighbors shaken and next steps
For neighbors along that stretch of Champaign, the attempted firebombing and gunfire were a jarring break from an otherwise quiet routine. Residents told reporters they are relieved no one was hurt but want answers about why the house was targeted. They are also watching closely to see whether the arrests lead to quick arraignments and a clearer picture of motive, TV20 Detroit reports. Police say the probe remains active and are asking anyone with additional footage or information to contact investigators as the case moves forward.
