Three men have been killed and four people injured in a shooting at an after-hours venue in Detroit, police said. Officers were called to the area of Eaton Avenue and Prest Street, on the city’s west side, at about 7.21am on Sunday.
Police Chief Todd Bettison said officers found the three men suffering from fatal wounds. The victims’ ages have not been released, although the chief said they were approximately 30 or older.
Two men and two women were taken to hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening. Investigators believe the shooting followed a fight.
Teferi Brent, senior director of the Mayor’s Office of Neighbourhood and Community Safety, said: “Fights don’t have to escalate to a homicide or to a non-fatal shooting, right? If I’m hearing correctly, if it’s all over a cell phone.”
Chief Bettison said detectives had leads and were working to identify those responsible. It was not immediately clear whether anyone had been arrested.
He said the address was known to Detroit police, who had received seven calls relating to the location this year. The chief said the venue, which has operated for about 20 years, resembled a strip club.
Ciera Riley, who said one of the men killed was her 32-year-old brother and a father of four, described him as a loving person who harmed no one.
“He doesn’t do any harm to anyone. He’s always a loving person. He’s here for everybody. So for someone to want to hurt him, it’s ridiculous. It’s crazy,” she said.
Riley said she was trying to remain composed for her family, adding: “It’s his children, he, his babies. He lived for his babies.”
Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield said the Office of Neighbourhood and Community Safety would provide “robust, wraparound services” for residents and families affected by the shooting.
Anyone with information has been asked to contact Crime Stoppers of Michigan on 1-800-773-2587.
