Detroit, MI

A death brought 2 Detroit Lions fans together. And then the team went above and beyond

Published

11 months ago

January 7, 2025

Press Room

A death brought 2 Detroit Lions fans together. And then the team went above and beyond

It’s wild how sports can bring lives together.

How a friendship can come out of nowhere.

And what happens after acts of kindness and compassion — just doing the right thing — whether that is an individual or an organization.

Like, say, the Detroit Lions, who did something amazingly cool over the weekend.

“Honestly, in the most simplistic way, this whole thing was overwhelming but in a good way,” Jeremy Schmidt said Monday morning.

How to get Lions Kings Of The North poster

Wait a second. Let’s back up.

Because this is a story that has unfolded in the most unlikely way with several twists and turns, with moments of pain and joy.

Schmidt’s father, Wally Schmidt, collapsed at Soldier Field in Chicago on Dec. 22 as the Lions were getting ready to play the Chicago Bears. Ben Roth, an off-duty paramedic and Lions season-ticket holder, rushed to help, restarting Wally’s heart with an AED. That gave Schmidt, also a big Lions fan, four or five extra hours with his father, who passed away that night from heart failure.

So, the Lions wanted to do something for them, something quiet and dignified, just to bring them some joy, trying to make their lives a little better in a time of grief.

The Lions flew Schmidt and two guests and Roth and his wife and daughter to Detroit over the weekend, setting up several special moments. The Lions put them up in a hotel and gave them tickets and field passes for Sunday night’s regular-season finale against the Minnesota Vikings — the biggest regular-season game ever played at Ford Field.

“I just felt like I was kind of floating down there for a little bit,” Schmidt said. “It was kind of surreal.”

A friendship is born

After Wally died, Roth decided to stay in Chicago and go to the funeral to pay his respects.

“I was nervous,” Roth said. “I met a bunch of the family while waiting in line. And then (Wally’s) sister gave me a hug, talked about how great her brother was; and then there was Jeremy standing next to the casket.”

Schmidt and Roth met in a tight embrace — the first responder and the son whose father had died.

“He was very strong for his family,” Roth said.

The service was emotional. “You could tell that (Wally) had a lot of people that loved him and he had a great life and would be missed, and they honored him really, really well,” Roth said.

After the service, Schmidt and Roth hung out, started talking and a friendship was born.

“We shared some sorrows and some laughs,” Schmidt said. “At the end, we were the last two to leave the services. We just talked life, just talked about what that whole day really meant to us. Obviously, it was a hard day, but he didn’t suffer. I was just showing Ben that there was genuine gratitude for what he did for me. And just, you know, trying to find the positivity.”

Credit the Lions for an amazing weekend

The Lions didn’t put out a press release about bringing in Schmidt and Roth. They didn’t make it known publicly.

In my eyes, that makes it even more genuine and special. You gotta give them all kinds of credit for this.

I only found out about it because both Roth and Schmidt texted me.

So, I called Roth on Monday morning, and he was still with Schmidt. They were about to share an Uber ride to the airport.

“Denver is a Bears fan,” Roth said, bringing up one of Schmidt’s close friends, Denver Worker, he brought to the game. “He wore Lions stuff, and he’s like, ‘Man, it’s hard not to cheer for you guys (the Lions). I’m still gonna be a Bears fan. But it’s so hard not to root for the Lions after seeing what this organization is doing for y’all. It’s absolutely amazing.’ ”

They were given field passes before the game and met Calvin Johnson, several members of the front office, the Lions cheerleaders and Roary, the team mascot.

But the big moment was meeting Barry Sanders, the Hall of Fame running back. Both Roth and Schmidt became Lions fans because of Sanders, even though Roth grew up in Texas and Schmidt in Chicago.

“Barry just talked to me like it was just a person he’d known forever,” Roth said. “It was surreal.”

After I interviewed Roth, he handed his phone to Schmidt.

“Meeting Barry Sanders was a special moment for both of us,” Roth said. “We’re Lions fans because of that guy.”

The Lions allowed Roth and Schmidt to stay on the field during player introductions and through the kickoff.

“Everybody was so insanely generous and just nice,” Schmidt said. “Everybody went out of their way to make sure that it was a special moment. Just a first-class organization. So amazing.”

Schmidt and Roth’s friendship has only grown.

“My dad placed him in my life for a reason,” Schmidt said. “He’s a great person. His family’s awesome. His daughter has got more personality than anybody I think I’ve ever met. It’s great to continue that bond and make it stronger.”

On Monday, Roth and Schmidt headed to Chicago; and they planned to do an ESPN interview on Tuesday.

“We’re doing the interview with ESPN that’ll air on Sunday NFL Countdown,” Schmidt said. “Just to share the story and also the meaning behind everything. Just trying to inspire people who can relate in any sort of way and find some positivity when things are dark.”

He is still grieving. But he’s trying to find some hope.

“We’re gonna make this just a beautiful story beyond the sadness,” Schmidt said.

And that beautiful story included a win over the Vikings.

“You know, the other special moment was just getting that victory for my dad,” Schmidt said. “We wanna keep the keep this train rolling, because we’re going all the way because of him. His spirit is going to bring the Lions a Super Bowl.”

Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@freepress.com. Follow him on X @seideljeff. To read his recent columns, go to freep.com/sports/jeff-seidel.

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Detroit, MI

Detroit family’s home damaged, Christmas gifts lost after fire spreads from vacant house

Published

7 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Press Room

Detroit family’s home damaged, Christmas gifts lost after fire spreads from vacant house

DETROIT – Detroit fire officials are investigating multiple house fires that broke out Tuesday morning, including a blaze that destroyed two vacant homes and damaged one family’s home on Dwyer Street.

The fire started around 1 a.m. in a vacant house, leveling it before spreading to a neighboring vacant property and then damaging the home of Joel Whitner and his family.

Whitner described how his family woke up to the sound of neighbors pounding on their door.

“When we walked out the door, the wind gusts and the fire just kind of like blew us back,” Whitner said, describing the intensity of the blaze.

The family’s home has significant damage, including water damage throughout the interior and damage to the roof.

The family lost Christmas gifts, furniture, and clothing in the fire.

A GoFundMe has been started to help support the family.

In a separate incident around 3 a.m., firefighters responded to another residential fire on Ashland Street, where a family of 15 evacuated safely after a space heater caught fire in an upstairs bedroom and spread to the attic.

“I grabbed my fire extinguisher, and I started spraying it right there, and that made it go up more, so I ran to the attic and started spraying in the attic,” said Jerome Hill. “Keep a fire extinguisher by your bed because if I didn’t have that by my bed, there’s no telling what would’ve happened.”

It comes after a house fire that killed a 6-year-old girl on Sunday (Dec. 14) and another fire that killed three on Monday.

Fire officials say space heaters are responsible for four out of five home heating-related fire deaths.

The Detroit Fire Department is reminding families of home heating safety tips.

Captain Edward Davis emphasized the importance of having a safety plan in place in case of an emergency.

“You want to create a fire safety plan for your home in the event of an emergency,” Davis said. “What are two ways to get out of the room, out of the home – where are our families meeting up? How do we alert other members in the home?”

The department’s safety guidelines for space heaters include:

Place heaters on flat, stable surfaces
Keep heaters at least three feet away from combustible items
Plug heaters directly into wall outlets
Turn off heaters when leaving rooms or going to sleep
Keep heaters clear of walkways and exits

The department is also reminding families of important carbon monoxide safety tips:

Install carbon monoxide alarms low to the ground, near gas furnaces, dryers, or heaters.
Test CO detectors monthly and replace them every five to seven years.
Avoid using a stove, oven, or grill as a heat source.
Keep gas and charcoal grills outdoors only—never in garages or enclosed spaces.
Hire only qualified professionals to inspect or repair heating systems, fireplaces, and chimneys.

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Detroit, MI

4 dead, Detroit firefighter injured in slew of fires. What to know

Published

19 hours ago

December 16, 2025

Press Room

4 dead, Detroit firefighter injured in slew of fires. What to know

In three days, two fatal fires and multiple other fires were reported in Detroit.
An electrical incident is believed to have caused one fatal fire.
Fire officials ask that residents make fire safety plans and take precautions with devices like space heaters.
Those facing housing and heating concerns can call the Detroit Housing Resource HelpLine at 866-313-2520.

A fire that claimed three lives in Detroit began with an electrical incident, officials say. Now, in the wake of that deadly blaze, another fatal fire and multiple other recent blazes – including one that injured a firefighter − Detroit fire officials are urging residents to take fire safety steps this holiday season.

Four people died across two fires on Sunday, Dec. 14, and Monday, Dec. 15, in the city, and firefighters tackled three housefires that displaced residents in the early morning hours on Tuesday, Dec. 16.

A cause was not yet available for the Dec. 14 fire that killed a 7-year-old boy, originally reported by officials as a 6-year-old girl. That fire took place in the 12000 block of Rutherford Street, near Greenfield Road, and also left a woman critical and a 4-year-old with smoke inhalation.

In the case of the Dec. 15 fire, more details were beginning to emerge.

A man, a woman and a teen girl all died after a house fire reported about 6 a.m. in the 19000 block of Wildemere Street, near Detroit’s Palmer Park and off 7 Mile Road. An elderly woman was also critical after the fire.

Clutter in the house slowed down rescue efforts, officials previously said.

And speaking to the media on Tuesday, Dec. 16, Fire Investigation Division Chief Dennis Richardson said an electrical event caused the fire, and combustibles in the house contributed to the blaze.

The specifics of the electrical event are still being looked at, but Richardson said the house already had electrical issues, and it’s believed wiring played a role in the fire.

Fire department team members “hate seeing this,” and are trying to convey messages around fire safety this time of year, Richardson said.

A spike in fires

That message is one the department works to share months ahead of the holiday season, said Detroit Fire Marshal Donald Thomas. Headed into next year, the department hopes to use data to work with specific neighborhoods with vulnerable structures that see home heating and electrical fires.

“We do notice that there is a spike in some of the fires that we have during our colder season,” Thomas said.

While the causes are still under investigation, the department also saw multiple houses in flames on Dec. 16:

A fire was reported about 12:45 a.m. in the 19100 block of Dwyer Street, said Corey McIsaac, Detroit Fire Department media relations director. Firefighters arrived to find fire in one home, but it extended into four homes nearby. One home was occupied, but no one was injured.
A house fire was also reported just before 3 a.m. in the 19600 block of Charest Street, McIsaac said. Firefighters arrived to find all residents and dogs outside. The fire was put out but rekindled a little after 6 a.m. and was doused again.
Additionally, a fire was reported just before 3:10 a.m. in the 2100 block of Ashland Street, McIsaac said. The upstairs flat in the two-family home was on fire, and all residents were out when firefighters arrived. One firefighter was injured during the response but was released later in the day.

All displaced residents were connected to the American Red Cross or Detroit Housing Services for housing assistance, McIsaac said.

Fighting time

Fire can double itself every 30 seconds, so residents and responders are “fighting against time” when flames break out, said Detroit Fire Capt. Edward Davis of the Public Instruction Unit.

Steps he suggested to avoid a fire in the first place include:

Plugging space heaters directly into wall outlets instead of extension cords.
Not leaving space heaters unattended while sleeping or leaving the home.
Keeping space heaters on a flat surface and three feet away from clothing, paper products or other combustibles.
Keeping space heaters away from children and pets, as the little ones can knock the heaters over or get burned.
Not using ovens or stoves to heat a house.

Steps he recommended to prepare for safety during a fire included:

Having working smoke detectors and checking them every week.
Creating a fire safety plan that includes two routes of escape, where to meet and how to alert others in the house without risking personal injury. That last part could be done with whistles or air horns. Additionally, having a plan on how to shelter if escape isn’t possible. Sheltering could include closing a door to slow a fire’s progress.
Possessing fire extinguishers and knowing how to use them.
Possessing a ladder, if a resident wants, but being sure where it is and how to use it because of how quickly fire doubles.

The fire department also released additional information on getting fireplaces and furnaces inspected and avoiding the dangers of carbon monoxide in the winter months. For more safety suggestions and details on those, go to detroitmi.gov/fire.

In addition, those facing housing concerns, without proper heat, or displaced from the fires can reach out to the Detroit Housing Resource HelpLine at 866-313-2520.

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Detroit, MI

‘We stay praying about it:’ Suspect in deadly Detroit hit and run charged

Published

1 day ago

December 16, 2025

Press Room

‘We stay praying about it:’ Suspect in deadly Detroit hit and run charged

Man charged in deadly hit-and-run from 2024

It’s the first holiday without Darnell Scott, who was killed in a hit-and-run in the summer of 2024 on Detroit’s east side. You might remember this video, showing him getting hit and neither driver stopped.

DETROIT (FOX 2) – A Detroit man was run over not once, but twice, all on video. Many might remember the incident from last summer but on Monday there was a big break in the case.

Big picture view:

It’s the first holiday without Darnell Scott, who was killed in a hit-and-run in the summer of 2024 on Detroit’s east side. You might remember a video showing him getting hit and neither driver stopped.

These cases can be tough to solve, but the Detroit Police fatal squad painstakingly pieced together footage from Green Light cameras and license plate readers, leading them to Daryl Rice in November.

He is now charged and was given a personal bond, which means he’s out for now.

“I honestly didn’t give up hope because we stay praying about it,” said the victim’s twin sister, Dana Scott.

The family is sickened by the damning evidence. Apparently, Rice made a false insurance claim on his car after the hit-and-run, lied about how the damage happened, but in the process, police say he incriminated himself.

The family wants others to hold out hope.

“Don’t give up, because it can happen, your wishes and answers can come true,” said Dana.

Crime and Public SafetyDetroit

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