A routine evening on Detroit's west side turned deadly when a man was shot and killed inside an unauthorized, after-hours barbershop tucked behind a local school, setting off a sprawling manhunt that has now stretched into neighboring Redford Township. Police have named 20-year-old Dalvine Nickerson as the suspect, say he ran from officers during a traffic stop, and are warning residents not to approach him. A cash reward is on the table for tips that help bring him in.
Shooting at Charles Wright Academy
According to ClickOnDetroit, the shooting happened around 6:45 p.m. on Nov. 14, when a man showed up for a haircut and was gunned down inside a makeshift barbershop operating out of the back of Charles Wright Academy of Arts and Science. Police say the shop was being run after hours by a contracted janitor and was not an official school operation.
The Detroit Public Schools Community District said the people involved were not part of the school community and that no students or staff were present at the time, the district told WXYZ. The shooting took place outside regular school hours, leaving district officials to stress that classroom activity was not directly connected to the incident.
Manhunt Moves Into Redford Township
The search ramped up when Detroit's fugitive unit tried to stop a vehicle linked to the investigation in Redford Township. Officers say three people bailed out of the car and ran, two were caught, and Nickerson kept going on foot, according to reporting from FOX2.
The hunt zeroed in on an area east of Beech Daly near Ross Drive and the Western Golf Course, where detectives went yard to yard, knocked on doors and questioned residents. The sudden influx of officers and search activity left that pocket of Redford on edge as police worked to track Nickerson's trail.
Who Police Are Looking For
Detroit police have identified the suspect as 20-year-old Dalvine Nickerson and describe him as dangerous. He was last seen dressed in all black and possibly wearing a dark face mask, according to the Detroit Free Press.
Investigators say they believe the victim and Nickerson likely knew each other. They have repeatedly emphasized that the shooting did not involve students or school staff, even though it unfolded on school grounds.
Reward and Tips
Authorities say a $5,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to Nickerson's arrest, and the case has been posted on the Detroit Rewards site. Tipsters can submit information through DetroitRewards.tv, according to CBS Detroit.
Anyone with information is urged to call 911 or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP (1-800-773-2587). Tips can be made anonymously, and officials say every lead is being checked as they try to close in on the suspect.
District and Neighborhood Reaction
The Detroit Public Schools Community District says it is working with investigators and again stressed that no students or staff were present when the shooting happened, ClickOnDetroit reported. District officials have also been left to answer tough questions about how an unauthorized barbershop came to be operating behind one of its schools.
Residents told reporters the manhunt transformed normally quiet blocks into an active search zone, with officers combing backyards and knocking on doors. The stepped-up presence left neighbors anxious and looking over their shoulders, according to New Media Detroit.
Police have released an image of Nickerson and are asking anyone who spots him to keep their distance and call authorities instead. Members of the public should contact 911 or Crime Stoppers with any sightings or tips, WWJ Newsradio reported. Detectives say the investigation is still active and are seeking any video or eyewitness accounts from the night of the shooting.
