DETROIT (WXYZ) — Desmond Burks’ murder trial starts this week. On Monday, he attended his pre-trial hearing. Burks faces first-degree murder, felony murder and larceny charges in the death of Dr. Devon Hoover.

The prominent Detroit neurosurgeon was found dead in his attic in April 2023 after Detroit police performed a wellness check. Investigators said he had been shot twice in the head and his body was wrapped in a blood-soaked carpet.

Watch Darren Cunningham’s video report below:

Trial set to begin in Dr. Devon Hoover murder case

At the pre-trial, Judge Paul Cusick set the tone for how he expects the trial to go. It could last several weeks, according to court administration.

“Obviously, there’s always been respect shown to this court by the defendant and attorneys in this case, and all of the witnesses need to show the respect that is going to be required. There will be no outburst from any witnesses or anyone else during the proceedings,” the judge said.

Cusick discussed scheduling for the trial, starting with jury selection Wednesday and outlined restrictions for news media.

“Media is prohibited from showing and/or publishing the faces of any civilian witnesses not employed by the government,” he read.

Those same restrictions were in place during the preliminary hearing.

At the prelim, a number of people testified that they were former lovers of Desmond Burks.

Those men and women described Burks as a hustler and said he would send them money from an unknown Cash App and then have them send the money back to his Cash App.

Watch our coverage of the third day of the preliminary hearing below:

Day 3 concludes in Desmond Burks’ preliminary hearing in murder of Dr. Devon Hoover

Burks is accused of stealing more than $30,000 from Hoover via credit card and fraudulent bank transactions, and Burks allegedly used other people to execute his plan.

Investigators said text messages revealed Burks had an intimate relationship with Hoover and was sometimes paid for sexual services.

Watch our coverage of the second day of the preliminary hearing below:

Mystery backpack focus of testimony during day 2 of Hoover preliminary hearing

Testimony from the prelim also revealed that authorities zeroed in on Burks, in part, through cellphone records and surveillance footage involving Hoover’s stolen truck.

During the trial, we may hear from a close relative of Burks who identified him in surveillance footage during the prelim. The footage allegedly shows Burks walking away from Hoover’s stolen vehicle.

Watch our coverage of the first day of the preliminary hearing below:

Preliminary hearing begins for man charged with killing Dr. Devon Hoover

The jury selection process is scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.

MILWAUKEE — A police chase that began in West Milwaukee on Sunday morning ended in a fiery crash on Milwaukee’s south side, killing 18-year-old Izack Zavala.

The Medical Examiner’s Office identified Zavala as the passenger who died in the one-car crash at 37th and Mitchell streets. His family said he was a 2025 Milwaukee Public Schools Alexander Hamilton High School graduate who loved soccer and would do anything to help his loved ones.

The West Milwaukee Police Department said officers attempted to pull over the driver for a traffic violation near Miller Park Way and Lincoln Avenue, but the driver fled and crossed into Milwaukee.

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About a mile later, police say the fleeing driver hit a roundabout, lost control, and crashed into a tree, ejecting both the driver and passenger.

“If they were trying to avoid one of those, and with the weather being cold and slick, and you hit a patch of ice, and you’re gone. You’re done,” Barbie, who witnessed the aftermath, said.

The loud crash woke up neighbors like Barbie in the middle of the night.

Watch: Teen passenger dies in fiery crash after fleeing driver crashes into Milwaukee roundabout

Teen passenger dies in fiery crash after fleeing driver crashes into Milwaukee roundabout

“Like thunder struck the building. The entire building shook. It was insane,” Barbie said.

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Looking out her kitchen window, Barbie saw the devastating scene unfold.

“The whole thing just lit up like a torch,” she said.

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A day after the flames were extinguished, crash debris still surrounded the tree and Barbie’s backyard.

“The car was right there in the center,” she said.

Zavala’s family said his cousin was driving the vehicle. The 19-year-old driver was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.

Barbie, who has witnessed crashes before, said seeing this one up close was different.

“I’ve seen plenty of crashes, had people that I care about die in crashes, but to see it up close is something different. I feel bad for the kid’s family,” she said.

The witness hopes the tragedy serves as a warning to others who might consider fleeing police.

“I feel for their family, and I wish to God that that wouldn’t have happened, obviously, but there comes a point, ‘what were you doing’, you know?” Barbie said. “I just think that people need to think before they do, and that’s just not a thing anymore.”

TMJ4 asked the West Milwaukee Police Department if it plans to refer charges for the 19-year-old driver who remains seriously injured at the hospital. The department declined to comment, saying it’s still an active investigation.

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A Minneapolis woman is being recognized with a national lifesaving award after rescuing a toddler who slipped into Bde Maka Ska last Mother’s Day.

Karmen Black, a licensed social worker and Minneapolis resident, received the Heroic Act Award from the United States Lifesaving Association on Monday during a ceremony at Minneapolis Fire Station 5. The award is the highest honor the organization gives to a bystander who is not a lifeguard or first responder.

The rescue happened while Black was walking around the lake with a friend.

“I love walking the lake,” Black said. “We had went around once, and then I convinced my friend to, ‘let’s go around a second time.’”

During the second lap, Black noticed a man walking ahead with his children. One child, she said, was trailing far behind.

“There was a third child lagging behind. I would say, like 30 yards behind him,” Black said. “And I said, ‘Gosh, he’s pretty far behind his father, especially to be so close to the lake.”

Moments later, the situation escalated.

“The little boy turned,” Black said. “He literally turned and saw the water. Eyes lit up, and I said to my friend, ‘No, he’s not going to.’ And he a-lined to the lake and just threw himself.”

Black said the location made the situation especially dangerous.

“If the father would have turned and looked down the path, just because of the way of the incline going down to the lake, he would have never known his son was literally over the edge, drowning,” she said.

Black ran into the water fully clothed and pulled the child out. The boy was reunited with his father moments later and was not seriously hurt.

Minneapolis Interim Fire Chief Melanie Rucker said Black’s quick action prevented a much more serious emergency.

“With Carmen’s quick thinking and reaction, that saved a life,” Rucker said. “That saved a rescue that we didn’t even have to respond to.”

Dr. Ayanna Rakhu, founder of Sankofa Swim International, presented the award and said the rescue highlights how quickly drowning incidents can happen.

“Drowning happens quickly and it happens silently,” Rakhu said. “Awareness is a big thing.”

Rakhu said the incident underscores the importance of swim education not just for children, but for adults as well.

“It’s important for kids and adults, and parents and aunts and uncles to learn how to swim,” she said. “Because we end up in these situations.”

Black said the experience stayed with her long after the rescue.

“I was traumatized for like a month,” she said, adding that she goes to the lakes almost every day in the summer.

Despite the national recognition, Black said she does not see herself as extraordinary.

“I just feel like this should be normal,” she said. “You would hope that this is just what anybody would do.”