Shoes intended for an annual charity giveaway in Detroit were recently stolen from a local nonprofit organization’s warehouse. Now, the group is asking for your help.

NW Goldberg Cares was set to give away 1,000 pairs of sneakers at its annual Hoopfest, a community event tied to Mayor Mary Sheffield’s “Occupy the Summer” initiative, but on Friday, the nonprofit’s founder made a surprising discovery at their warehouse.

“I just happened to notice that something seemed very off about how many shoes were in the warehouse. Sure enough, I went to the back of the facility, saw a bunch of big boxes, as well as some bags that previously had sneakers in it, completely empty,” Daniel Washington, founder and executive director, NW Goldberg Cares, said.

Washington says a person or group stole about 400 pairs of shoes.

“From the looks of it, it looks like they were somehow able to pry up the door on the backside of the building, crawl underneath, and while somebody else was in, somebody was able to hand shoes out underneath the door,” he said.

Washington says a report was filed with the Detroit Police Department, but so far, they don’t have any leads.

“DPD staff is working on the case right now. We’ve been in contact with several sergeants on the issue, and at this point, we’re just hoping for some type of information on it or recovery of some sort,” Washington said.

The custom-designed brand shoes were donated by Social Status Detroit and USA Basketball. The value is more than $40,000.

“Depending on what shoes you’re talking about, you could go as up to $45,000 to $75,000. Because again, shoes, depending, were as much as $220 a shoe. So, a lot of loss,” Washington said.

Since the news broke, the community has stepped up to help.

“We have about over 130 pairs of individual shoes that were donated via our Amazon wish list, which has truly helped us in so many ways because, you know, without those types of donations, without people stepping up, you know, we would be up a creek without a paddle, as they say,” Washington said.

Hoopfest gives hope to kids and teens.

“For so many kids across this great city, they might not have ever had a brand new pair of shoes, right? Money is tight in the household, and at the end of the day, we want to give them that level of confidence or give them that little boost to say, ‘Hey, you deserve the experience of opening up a brand new pair of shoes,’” Washington said.

Washington shared the following final message with CBS News Detroit on Sunday:

“I encourage anybody who needs help, just reach out before you make it or do an act like this that compromises the integrity of an event like ours. Just reach out. Say, ‘We need help.’ Express your needs. Say, ‘Hey, we’d love some support in this way. Is there any way we could work alongside you?’”

The nonprofit founder says they’re resilient and they’re not going to let the incident stop Hoopfest from being a success. The event runs Friday through Sunday at Curtis Jones Park.

Three people are dead and at least two others wounded after shootings broke out at Metro Detroit shopping malls just eight days apart.

The shootings all involved young adults, ages 19-22, who carried weapons, at least one lawfully.

At Great Lakes Crossing Outlets in Auburn Hills on Saturday, a Pontiac man was killed and a woman injured in the food court after an altercation that occurred in a bathroom rekindled in the food court.

In Dearborn, Cameron Watkins and Keonte Seaborn, both 19 and of Detroit, were killed on July 3 at Fairlane Town Center after a July 3 altercation involving three others.

Keianna Hundley, Keonte’s mother, decried the violence that took her son just two years after he graduated from high school.

“Seeing him walk across the stage with a big smile meant everything to me,” Hundley said. “I don’t wish the pain I feel on any parent.”

Great Lakes Crossing mall shooting Saturday

Auburn Hills police said they were patrolling Great Lakes Crossing Outlets at about 5:20 p.m. when they received reports of shots fired in the food court.

A 22-year-old Detroit man and a 20-year-old Pontiac man had an altercation inside the food court restroom at Great Lakes Crossing Outlets earlier. After 5 p.m. Saturday, the Pontiac man, then with another individual, saw and attacked the Detroit man, who had a license to carry a concealed weapon.

The Detroit man fired on the Pontiac man, killing him and wounding a 19-year-old woman who was not identified, according to Auburn Hills police. The Detroit man was taken into custody and was cooperating with authorities but has not been identified by police.

The shooting sent shoppers scurrying for the exits and the mall was closed for the remainder of the day.

Fairlane shopping mall shooting July 3

Advertisement

Police update on fatal shooting at Fairlane Mall in Dearborn

Police update on fatal shooting at Fairlane Mall in Dearborn on Friday afternoon, July 3, 2026.

Early in the afternoon of July 3, several young adults were involved in an altercation at the mall.

Prosecutors determined that Watkins and Seaborn both produced weapons.

Watkins shot Seaborn with the weapon he took from the purse of another person linked to the shooting, Cania Cain, and then continued to “shoot recklessly in the public mall,” officials said. A fourth person, Martinez Long, 19, then shot Watkins, prosecutors allege. Long was arraigned Tuesday in Dearborn’s 19th District Court on one count of carrying a concealed weapon.

Watkins’ death was determined to be a shooting in self defense and no charges were authorized for the homicide

The chaos sent shoppers running for the exits, and one person was struck by a vehicle during the scramble to flee, Police Chief Issa Shahin said.

“Senseless gun violence continues to plague communities across the country,” Shahin said earlier this week. “We are saddened by this entirely preventable tragedy but have to reiterate: We will expend all resources to keep our city safe and hold individuals responsible for dangerous behavior.”

by: The Associated Press

Posted: Jul 11, 2026 / 11:29 PM EDT

Updated: Jul 11, 2026 / 11:29 PM EDT

DETROIT (AP) — Cristopher Sánchez struck out seven in seven innings, Bryce Harper and J.T. Realmuto doubled and the Philadelphia Phillies ended the Detroit Tigers’ six-game winning streak with a 4-2 victory Saturday night.

The Phillies are 45-25 since snapping a 10-game losing streak April 25 and have the second-highest winning percentage in that span.

Sánchez (11-4) allowed two runs on 10 hits, bouncing back from a career-worst outing against Kansas City. Jonathan Bowlan threw a hitless eighth, and Jhoan Duran had a 1-2-3 ninth for his 24th save.

Trea Turner’s sacrifice fly got the Phillies on the board in the third inning. Derek Hill prevented Zach McKinstry from driving in the tying run with a spectacular diving catch.

Realmuto had a two-run double in the fourth to extend the lead.

The Tigers got one back on Eduardo Valencia’s solo homer in the fifth.

Casey Mize (4-6) worked 5 2/3 innings for Detroit.

Up next

Phillies RHP Zack Wheeler (9-1, 2.28 ERA) was set to face Tigers LHP Tarik Skubal (5-4, 3.06) on Sunday.