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Detroit, MI

Victims of largest mass shooting in Michigan history said they couldn’t see shooter

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Victims of largest mass shooting in Michigan history said they couldn’t see shooter


Detroit — None of the eight victims who testified Tuesday about being injured in the largest mass shooting in Michigan history said they saw who shot them, instead describing a chaotic scene with too many gunshots to count.

Diamond Cheatham said “it was so many I can’t remember,” noting it was at least more than 20 shots. She did not know where the shots came from. Chelsea Jackson said she heard “probably about over 100 shots.”

The victims testified Tuesday during the preliminary examination for Demetrus Shaw, the only person charged so far in what prosecutors characterized as an ongoing investigation into a mass shooting at a July 7 block party in Detroit that left two people dead and 19 injured. Detroit police have said they believe the shooting stemmed from a gang dispute.

Shaw, 19, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, 19 counts of assault with intent to murder and 21 counts of felony firearm. If convicted, he faces life in prison.

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The homicide victims were Shanae Fletcher, 20, of Harrison Township and Phillip Arnold, 21, of Detroit. Among the non-fatal shooting victims were a 16-year-old girl, two 17-year-old girls, a 17-year-old boy, a 19-year-old woman, two 20-year-old women and two 22-year-old men, all of Detroit; a 17-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy, both of Clinton Township; two 18-year-old women from Eastpointe; a 20-year-old Oak Park woman; a 21-year-old woman, a 21-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman from Highland Park; a 21-year-old woman from Southfield; and a 21-year-old woman from Chesterfield Township.

Shaw’s attorney, Mohammed Naser, asked each of the victims if they were treated for their injuries before or after they spoke to police. He declined to comment after the preliminary examination ended Tuesday, noting it was still ongoing. It will continue Wednesday with three remaining witnesses.

Police arrived just after 2:30 a.m. July 7 at Rossini Drive near Gratiot Avenue for a report of a shooting. Some of the victims had already left the scene before police arrived, being driven to the hospital by friends or other party-goers. Others, like Fletcher, were left behind.

Detroit Police Officer Daniel Havern said Fletcher was not breathing and had no pulse when he arrived. She was bleeding from the head.

Jawan Mitchell said he was shot in the leg next to his cousin, Arnold. He had only been at the party for a few minutes before the shooting began.

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“I was laying on my stomach, and by the time I turned to my back, he was talking to me and his last words were ‘cuz I love you.’ And that’s it,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell, like the other victims who testified Tuesday, said he did not see who shot him. But he could tell the shots came from the direction of the driveway across from him.

Mitchell was the only one of the victims who testified Tuesday who said he had a gun, but he did not fire it because he couldn’t see the shooter. He said he saw someone run and hop a fence after the shooting stopped.

Starkesha Charleston was grazed in the head, and her older sister Starlitha Charleston was shot in the arm and back. Starkesha said her friend, who did not testify Tuesday, also was shot. The three of them had been there for only a few minutes before the shots started.

“I was running,” Starkesha Charleston said of the moments after the first shot came. “Most of us were shot so we couldn’t do anything but run.”

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Chelsea Jackson, who had been shot in the thigh, said she fell to the ground and had to crawl behind a bush to hide as the shots continued. Someone carried her into a nearby house and she stayed there until an ambulance took her to the hospital.

Darah Orr and Mariah Ruffin said they didn’t see anyone shooting, but Orr said “clearly there was more than one shooter.” Neither prosecutors nor Naser asked the women why they believed there was more than one shooter.

Ruffin was shot in the leg, and Orr was shot in the right forearm.

“I was running to get in front of another car,” Orr said. “The area I was in was too open so I was trying to take cover.”

Ruffin said she crawled behind a bush after she heard the shots start. She hadn’t realized at first that she had been hit, until she went to scratch her leg and her hand came back bloody.

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“I ran,” Ruffin said of when she heard the shots. “Everyone was running every which way.”

Shaw is also charged with the May 31 nonfatal shooting of a 37-year-old Detroit man on Collington Drive in Detroit.

The shooting on Rossini Avenue was one of several violent incidents at Detroit block parties during the Fourth of July weekend. Following the incident, Detroit police officials required officers to participate in the department’s Mobile Field Force, the unit that handles block parties and large gatherings.

Prior to the shooting, officers volunteered for the detail, although the department was shorthanded during the holiday weekend because officials said there weren’t enough officers staffing the unit.

kberg@detroitnews.com

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Detroit, MI

2 hospitalized after shooting on Lodge Freeway in Detroit

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2 hospitalized after shooting on Lodge Freeway in Detroit




2 hospitalized after shooting on Lodge Freeway in Detroit – CBS Detroit

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Michigan State Police say troopers were investigating Saturday after two people in a car on Lodge Freeway in Detroit were shot.

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Detroit, MI

With 46k outages around Michigan, Metro Detroit prepares for power loss

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With 46k outages around Michigan, Metro Detroit prepares for power loss


With a High Wind Warning and high wind gusts expected to hit Southeast Michigan on Monday, utilities are preparing for a busy afternoon with possible outages.

DTE says it has response teams in place to deal with a loss of power to homes around the region.

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DTE: Weather may cause power outages

According to DTE, approximately 6,200 homes were without power to start things out this week.

That number could rise as the wind picks up throughout the day. Gusts up to 60 mph are expected to blow through in the late morning and early afternoon. 

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“Our Storm Response Teams are ready to restore power as quickly and safely as possible,” read a note from DTE on their website. 

The company will also be providing an update on their prepared response at 9 a.m.

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Tap here to see the DTE outage map

Dig deeper:

If someone does come across a downed power line, they should avoid the spot. 

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DTE recommends staying at least 25 feet away from the downed lines, and assume they are live and dangerous. If anyone sees downed power lines, they’re asked to report it here.

If there is an emergency, such as a fire or you see a power line on an unoccupied car, first call 911 then call the power company. DTE Energy can be reached at 800-477-4747. Consumers Energy can be reached at 800-477-5050.

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More: How to apply for reimbursement from DTE, Consumers Energy

If you are inside your vehicle and a wire falls on it, DTE says to stay in your vehicle and call 911. 

However, if you must get out of the vehicle, DTE advises removing loose clothing, and getting out without touching the frame. Jump with your feet together to avoid touching the vehicle and ground at the same time. Do not remove your feet until you are at least 20 feet away from the vehicle. 

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46k Outages Elsewhere

The recent blast of active weather over the weekend has already knocked out power for a big chunk of the state further to the north.

Approximately 46,000 households remain without power, according to Consumers Energy.

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The bulk of those outages are north of Mount Pleasant, near Claire off of Highway 127.

See the outage map here.

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According to Consumers Energy, they have 500 crews responding to the outages and hope to have power restored by 10 p.m.

High Wind Warning

Michigan will be under a high wind warning for the majority of Monday. 

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The National Weather Service issued the order from 4 a.m. until 9 p.m. The winds will shift from Southwest to Northwest at 25 to 35 mph. Occasional gusts between 45 and 55 mph are expected with a speeds climbing to 60 mph.

That means downed wires and tree branches are not out of the question.

Incoming snow could also worsen visibility on the road. 

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The Source: Data from DTE and Consumers Energy, as well as forecast information from the National Weather Service were cited for this story. 

ConsumerMetro DetroitAround Michigan



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Detroit, MI

Detroit Metro Airport deals with flight delays and cancellations during Midwest storm

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Detroit Metro Airport deals with flight delays and cancellations during Midwest storm



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Detroit Metro Airport is facing over 200 flight delays and cancellations, and flooding is being reported in Southeast Michigan as a winter storm moves through the Midwest on Sunday.

As of 7:45 p.m., 17 flights that were scheduled to depart the Romulus-based airport on Sunday have been canceled, according to FlightAware, and 131 have been delayed.   

Twenty flights scheduled to arrive at DTW Airport have been canceled and 118 have been delayed as of 7:45 p.m., FlightAware said.

Across the country, More than 3,000 flights were canceled or delayed by Sunday afternoon.

The disruptions come less than two days after a winter storm with ice and snow that strained the Midwest and Great Lakes regions, and during what was expected to be one of the busiest travel days of the holiday season.

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Flooding in Southeast Michigan

Northville Road between Five Mile and Six Mile roads in Northville Township was flooded on Sunday afternoon, according to public safety officials who asked that people avoid the area.  

Glenlore Trails in Commerce Township says it will be closed on Sunday night due to “extensive flooding” in the area. According to event organizers, anyone who had a ticket can email organizers for a refund or to transfer it to Jan. 3.   

Rounds of prolonged heavier rainfall are expected through the afternoon and evening hours, generally along or south of Interstate 69. Thunderstorms are possible on Sunday evening.

Temperatures will drop significantly overnight and flash freezing is possible. 

Snow squalls and brief, intense snow showers are expected through the day on Monday, along with brief whiteout conditions.

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This is a developing story. Stay with CBS News Detroit to learn more. 



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