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Ten people shot and one killed at party on Detroit basketball court Detroit police chief pleads for details on fatal shooting: 'Silence is not acceptable'
(about 7 hours later)
One person was killed and nine others were wounded on Saturday night when someone opened fire at a neighbourhood block party on a basketball court in Detroit, authorities said. A wall of silence surrounds a shootout at a block party on Detroit’s west side that left a 19-year-old gunman dead and 11 other people wounded, police chief James Craig said Sunday from the site where about 300 people had barbecued and celebrated hours earlier.
Assistant police chief Steve Dolunt said a 20-year-old man was killed. He was not being identified while relatives were informed. Standing on basketball courts where the shooting happened about 8.30 pm on Saturday, chief James Craig said officers are seeking two men believed to have exchanged gunfire with the victim, Malik Jones. So far, he said, witnesses and the injured haven’t been much help.
The victims ranged in age from 21 to 46, Dolunt said, and three of them were women. One person was in critical condition late on Saturday night, according to Cassandra Lewis, the department’s public information officer. She said the rest of the victims had injuries that were not life-threatening. “This is a passionate plea for the neighborhood to say something and step up,” said Craig, standing a few feet from a child’s chair and table sat. “These are urban terrorists ... We are fortunate we don’t have any young children recovering from a gunshot wound.”
The shooting happened at a neighbourhood party that included a barbecue attended by families with some small children in strollers, Dolunt said. Residents have been reluctant to cooperate with police, the chief acknowledged, with witnesses apparently concerned that they may put themselves at risk.
“Through the grace of God no children were shot,” he said. “I understand the fear ... but are we going to let these urban terrorists take over our city?” Craig asked. “This must end. We are fighting hard ... but we cannot do it alone.”
Dolunt also said that police did not know the reason for the shooting. No one had been arrested, Lewis said. He said officers were fanning out around the neighborhood Sunday.
“Speak up. Say something. Your silence is not acceptable,” Craig said. “Somebody is going to talk.”
Four women and seven men were injured, the oldest of them 47. All were either in stable condition at hospitals or back home on Sunday, Craig said.
According to the chief, the 19-year-old had been shot and wounded recently and Saturday’s exchange of gunfire was believed to be in retaliation.
The double basketball court is run by the adjoining Dexter-Elmhurst community center, said Helen Moore, chairwoman of the private group that manages the center.
“It’s a good community,” Moore said. “I know there are people in the community that know what happened and are afraid to speak up.
“I’m not afraid of anything but God,” she added.