A Detroit man accused of killing a 28-year-old Westland resident has been ordered to stand trial in Wayne County’s 3rd Circuit Court after a judge found probable cause at a preliminary hearing. The shooting allegedly took place outside a Southwest Detroit apartment complex on May 4, 2025, and prosecutors say the victim died at the scene. The defendant, identified in court records as 27-year-old Damon Bentley, now heads toward a possible jury trial.
Judge moves case to circuit court
Yesterday, a judge bound Bentley over on charges that include first-degree murder, felony-firearm and carrying a concealed weapon, according to ClickOnDetroit. The outlet reports Bentley was sent to the 3rd Circuit Court docket and is scheduled to appear there at 9 a.m. on April 14. The bind-over follows the case's start in the 36th District Court last year, a routine but pivotal step that shifts the case into the county’s higher-stakes felony arena.
Charges and original arrest
Bentley was first charged in May 2025. A press release from the Michigan Attorney General's Office says he faces one count of first-degree murder, one count of felony-firearm and one count of carrying a concealed weapon. The release states the shooting happened on May 4, 2025, outside the Grand Lofts apartment complex in Southwest Detroit and that the victim was a 28-year-old man from Westland. Bentley's initial arraignment took place in the 36th District Court last spring.
Attorney General's statement
“I am relieved that this case will now move forward to trial, where my office will continue to pursue justice for this young man,” Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement, according to ClickOnDetroit. Prosecutors have said they will continue to seek accountability as the case moves onto the county's felony calendar.
Legal stakes if case goes to trial
Under Michigan law, a conviction for first-degree murder can carry a life sentence, and the felony-firearm statute (MCL 750.227b) imposes a mandatory two-year term that must be served consecutively to any sentence for the underlying felony, per state law and court rulings cited by Justia. Those mandatory penalties make homicide prosecutions in Michigan particularly consequential and would be central to any sentencing if Bentley is convicted. Defense lawyers caution that a bind-over is not a finding of guilt but simply a decision that allows the case to be tried before a jury.
What to watch next
Bentley is due back in the 3rd Circuit Court on April 14 at 9 a.m., when judges could set pretrial deadlines and a trial calendar. If prosecutors press forward, the case will move from district-level procedures into the county’s felony docket, with a longer schedule for motions, discovery and potential jury selection. Court filings and dates in the case are expected to come into sharper focus after the April 14 appearance.
