A drive-by shooting tore through a residential block on Detroit’s east side yesterday, sending three people in their 30s to the hospital and rattling a neighborhood that is sadly no stranger to gunfire.
Detroit police say officers were called out around 7:15 p.m. to the area of Whithorn Street near Conner Street after reports of shots fired. According to ClickOnDetroit, the city’s ShotSpotter system flagged possible gunfire in the 11000 block of Whithorn almost at the same time multiple 911 calls started coming in.
When officers arrived, they found two men and a woman, all in their 30s, who had been hit multiple times while outside. One victim was listed in critical condition, while the other two were reported in temporary serious condition, police said.
Investigators say a black SUV rolled past and someone inside opened fire before taking off. That brief description of the vehicle is all detectives have publicly released so far, and no suspect has been identified. Officers from the 9th Precinct are canvassing the neighborhood and working to track down any available surveillance video, according to WXYZ.
DPD Public Information Officer Jalon Nelson said the city’s expanded ShotSpotter coverage was key to the quick response. “ShotSpotter was recently extended,” Nelson noted, adding that residents have backed the technology as a tool that helps officers zero in on gunfire more quickly, WXYZ reported.
ShotSpotter Extension And The Local Debate
The shooting comes as Detroit is in the middle of a heated conversation about whether ShotSpotter is worth the money and the scrutiny. Last month, the City Council narrowly approved a short-term extension of the gunshot-detection contract while the police department weighs longer-term options.
FORCE Detroit noted that the council voted 5-4 to extend the roughly $2 million contract for nine more months. Supporters argue the system helps get officers to shooting scenes faster. Critics question its cost and raise concerns about privacy and policing tactics in already over-surveilled neighborhoods.
As for Tuesday night’s gunfire, police say they believe the three wounded people were the intended targets and that the attack appears to be an isolated incident, according to WXYZ.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Detroit Police Department’s 9th Precinct at 313-596-5900 or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.
