DETROIT — A Detroit man was convicted Wednesday of fatally shooting two people and wounding six others during an argument that started over a vehicle blocking his driveway.

A jury found Winston Kirtley Jr. guilty of two counts of first-degree murder, six counts of assault with intent to murder and 10 counts of using a firearm during a felony, Wayne County prosecutors said in a statement.

The shooting in which Toyake Thirkeild, 39, and Andre Willis, 38, were killed took place July 31, 2022.

Kirtley, who faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison, testified Tuesday that he was going to exercise about 2:30 a.m. and an SUV was blocking his driveway, The Detroit News reported.

Willis and Thirkeild were in the vehicle. Kirtley said he asked Willis three times to move it, according to the newspaper.

Kirtley said Willis responded by saying “What?” several times.

“He pulled out a black pistol and pointed it at me, and I went to my house and grabbed my gun,” Kirtley testified. “I was scared and confused of him shooting me. I came back out and shot the Durango. I felt my life was in danger.”

Kirtley also said he heard gunshots from across the street before he retrieved his assault-style rifle and began firing. He said he shot 16 times at Willis and Thirkeild, and another three times at two other men.

Defense attorney James Schlaff told the jury that his client believed he was about to be harmed or killed when he saw Willis with a gun.

But Assistant Prosecutor James Kehoe said during closing arguments that there was no evidence Willis had a gun. Kehoe also said a slug struck a neighbor’s home before one of the men who was wounded began shooting at Kirtley, according to The Detroit News.

“This gun is being shot at everyone because this is a mass shooting,” Kehoe said. “He meant to pull that trigger and he meant to do it at least 19 times. He wasn’t threatened. He wasn’t provoked.”

Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 4.

The Detroit Tigers made a few moves ahead of the 2024 MLB trade deadline yesterday. One of those moves sent veteran starting pitcher Jack Flaherty to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

During the last few weeks leading up to the deadline, it had become a sure thing that the Tigers would deal Flaherty. He is on an expiring contract and does not fit the long-term window for the team.

In the trade with the Dodgers, Detroit ended up getting catcher Thayron Liranzo and infielder Trey Sweeney. Both players have talent and could help the Tigers down the road.

Liranzo was L.A.’s No. 8 ranked prospect while Sweeney was ranked No. 22.

Flaherty had been a consistent presence for Detroit all season long. It’s a shame to see him go, but it was a necessary move to make.

In the 18 games he started, Flaherty racked up a 7-5 record to go along with a 2.95 ERA, a 0.96. WHIP, a 7.0 K/BB ratio, and 106.2 innings pitched. He was the definition of consistent.

Looking at the two players the Tigers got in return, there is legitimate potential to be excited about.

When it comes to Liranzo, he has played in 74 minor league games this season at the A+ level. He has hit .220/.344/.356 to go along with seven home runs and 30 RBI.

As for Sweeney, he has had a good season playing at the Triple-A level. In his 96 games played, Sweeney hit 13 home runs to go along with 62 RBI while batting .254/.334/.427.

It will be awhile before Liranzo is ready to play in the majors. Sweeney, however, is viewed as MLB-ready and could play in Detroit in the very near future.

Clearly, the move helps the Dodgers compete for a championship this season. He adds another potentially elite starter to the rotation when he’s playing at his best. Los Angeles already had a championship caliber team before this move and got even better in other trade deadline additions as well.

Hopefully, this is a move that the Tigers can look back on and see as a trade that helped them get back on track.

Flaherty was a great player for Detroit for the time he was with the team and he’ll be missed.