On a night that was supposed to be about fireworks over the river, Detroit is instead wrestling with the fallout from a downtown police shooting that left an 18-year-old in the hospital. The encounter unfolded during a foot chase near Bates and Farmer streets on the evening of June 22, just hours before the city’s Ford Fireworks show. Witnesses say officers sprinted after the teen through a crowd that had packed in for the display, and medics rushed him from the scene in serious condition. Neighbors and relatives say the chaos has left them with more questions than answers about how police handled the crowd.
Renee Wilson, a relative of the teen, told the Detroit Free Press that her family has identified him as Alonzo Lee-Perkins and that he "never took out a gun" during the chase. According to Wilson, Lee-Perkins was shot in the back, buttocks and the back of the shoulder. Relatives say he remained handcuffed to his hospital bed for five days while he recovered, and they have launched a fundraiser to help cover mounting medical and legal costs. Those close to him say they plan to push hard for a detailed explanation of why officers opened fire.
The shooting played out in the middle of a heavy security push around the fireworks footprint. Detroit police said they detained about 180 juveniles for curfew violations and made several arrests as they swept viewing areas and checked for weapons, according to Spectrum News. Authorities told reporters the chain of events began when officers detained a 19-year-old who was carrying a rifle, then noticed another young man walking away in a way they considered suspicious. The expansive police presence and tight curfew were part of a pre-planned security strategy for the annual event.
Investigation and charges
While investigators dig into the shooting, the teen at the center of it is also facing criminal charges. Prosecutors have charged Lee-Perkins with carrying a concealed weapon, resisting an officer and felony firearm. He was arraigned late last week, according to ClickOnDetroit. Police say they recovered a weapon at the scene and that an officer fired during the pursuit after fearing for his safety.
Relatives flatly contest that narrative and say they are looking for answers that go beyond a single night’s encounter. In public comments and through the family’s fundraiser, they have urged witnesses and anyone with video of the incident to come forward so attorneys can piece together what happened in the seconds before shots were fired, the family says in the Free Press report.
How the probe moves forward
In Detroit, shootings involving officers are typically handled by a Homicide Task Force that includes investigators from the Michigan State Police, and prosecutors will ultimately review the officer’s actions, as reported by WXYZ. Local outlets report that investigators will be combing through body-camera footage, surveillance video and witness statements to determine whether the use of force met legal and departmental standards. The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office will then decide whether any additional charges are warranted.
The case has already renewed calls from residents and community groups for more transparency around how Detroit polices large public events, and for the release of video that might clarify the confrontation. Officials have said there is no ongoing threat to the public as the investigation continues, and authorities are asking anyone with photos or video from the area near Bates and Farmer on June 22 to contact investigators or Crime Stoppers, according to local reporting.
For many Detroiters, the shooting has reopened long-standing debates about where to draw the line between aggressive, preventative policing and needless escalation, especially in dense crowds. As investigators gather evidence and prosecutors weigh their options, Lee-Perkins’ relatives and their supporters say they are preparing for a sustained push for a full accounting of the decision to pull the trigger on a crowded fireworks night.
