A shooting broke out at a tailgate party following Sunday’s Detroit Lions game, killing two people and putting one suspect in custody, Detroit police said.
On Sunday, Sept. 15, at around 4:30 p.m., bullets rang out at Eastern Market near Ford Field, where thousands had gathered to see the Detroit Lions play and hang out afterward, according to police.
“What it looks like preliminarily is that people got into it over something that happened here,” Detroit Police Chief James White told a press conference following the incident. “Tailgating, drinking, guns, they don’t mix.”
The incident broke out at Shed 6 on Riopelle Street in Eastern Market, where fans assemble for home games, and was resolved in a matter of minutes, according to White.
Shortly after, “They reconvened a few feet away from where the initial fight started,” the chief explained. “The two combatants raised their fists as if preparing to fight each other. One of the participants in the altercation, a male from Oak Park, draws a gun and shoots at least twice.
According to White, the individual who planned to combat the suspect was tragically shot. A second victim was shot and sent to a hospital. That person died on Monday, September 16, police revealed on X (previously known as Twitter).
Officers who were already present at the stadium and adjacent areas responded swiftly, according to White.
“We were here,” he confirmed. “We were able to hear the gunshots.”
He added police are now looking into whether the victims and suspect knew each other.
Authorities have not officially identified the suspect or the two victims, but White said the suspect is in his 30s and permitted to carry a firearm.
The Lions faced the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who defeated them 20-16.
It is unknown what sparked the argument. White says his police frequently see gunfights break out at major events like carnivals and social gatherings between people carrying firearms who don’t know how to stop an argument before it spins out of hand.
“I mean, conflict resolution, right?” she replied. “The absence of de-escalation skills is ridiculous. It’s completely ludicrous.
“It is a gorgeous day. It shouldn’t have come to this, but it did.
There have been no charges announced.
Police are still investigating.
Anyone with information or footage from this incident is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-Speak-Up or Detroit Police Homicide at 313-596-2260.
+ There are no comments
Add yours