A Southfield man accused of hitting and killing a disabled veteran in his wheelchair along Nine Mile Road last fall has been ordered to face his case in Oakland County Circuit Court. The defendant, 28-year-old Devin Asa-Armon Light, is charged in the death of 71-year-old William Mapp, who was found in his wheelchair in the roadway near West Nine Mile Road and Harding Street in Oak Park last November. Prosecutors say the driver fled the scene, and the case is now moving deeper into the felony court process.
Light waived his right to a preliminary examination yesterday, which automatically sent the case from the district court to the county circuit level, according to The Oakland Press. The outlet reports that Light posted a $5,000 bond and is currently out of custody. He is scheduled to be arraigned on March 12 and faces a charge of failure to stop at the scene of an accident resulting in death.
The fatal crash happened in the early morning hours of Nov. 22, 2025. Surveillance video reviewed by detectives put the impact at around 1:30 a.m., though Mapp was not reported to authorities until later that morning, according to CBS Detroit. Investigators initially searched for a dark-gray Hyundai Elantra and later recovered a 2024 model abandoned in Detroit. Authorities say a tip from the public led to an arrest in January, after Hoodline coverage of the search and charging documents tracked the case through the winter.
Local reporting and law enforcement documents identified the victim as William Mapp, 71. Oak Park Public Safety told reporters that Mapp used a wheelchair and had been living unhoused in Michigan for several years after moving from New York, according to The Oakland Press. Officials have not released further details about his family. Investigators say they are still reviewing evidence collected from the scene. Community groups and Crime Stoppers helped generate tips during the investigation, and police publicly thanked residents for coming forward.
What Happens Next
With the case now in circuit court, prosecutors can press ahead with the felony charge and move the matter through pretrial hearings. Light’s decision to waive a preliminary exam shortens the route to his arraignment and to any potential grand jury or indictment steps that could follow. Leaving the scene of an at-fault crash that causes death is addressed in Michigan law (MCL 257.617) and carries a possible penalty of up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine, according to the Michigan Legislature. Investigators continue to ask anyone with information to contact Oak Park Public Safety at 248-691-7447 or Crime Stoppers, as reported by WXYZ.
