Elizabeth Washington

Crime

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Timeline: Detroit man charged with murder of Eastpointe cousin Zion Foster

EASTPOINTE, Mich. – Jaylin Brazier, the cousin of Zion Foster, has been charged with first-degree murder more than a year after the Eastpointe teenager went missing.

The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office announced Tuesday, June 13, that Brazier, 24, has been charged in connection with the homicide of his 17-year-old cousin.

Officials say Foster was last seen on Jan. 4, 2022, at her home in the 22000 block of Melrose Court in Eastpointe, near Gratiot Avenue and Toepfer Drive.

The girl reportedl
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Semi truck loaded with empty beer kegs crashes, caught on fire after speeding on I-94

SCIO TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A semi truck hauling empty beer kegs was involved in a crash that temporarily closed I-94 westbound in Washtenaw County.

Officials reported that the crash occurred around 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday near Jackson Avenue in Scio Township.

Police say the semi truck was driving too fast for a curve, lost control, ran off the road, and then caught on fire.

There are no reported injuries from the crash. Crews worked to clean up the debris from the collision as W/B I-94 remained clos
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Police: Washtenaw County teenager in custody after firing gun at car in KFC drive-thru

A teenager is in custody after allegedly firing off a gun in a drive-thru of a Washtenaw County KFC.

Pittsfield Township police say that witnesses reported hearing 4 to 5 gunshots around the 4000 block of Washtenaw Avenue, near Carpenter Road, on Saturday around 6:15 p.m.

A witness told Pittsfield officials that they observed the suspect, a 16-year-old from Ypsilanti Township, shooting at a white vehicle in the KFC drive-thru and then fleeing the scene on foot into the fast food chain storefro
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Police: Man says ex-girlfriend followed, fired shots at him on I-94 in Romulus

ROMULUS, Mich. – Police are investigating a Kalamazoo woman who was allegedly following and shooting at an ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend while traveling on I-94.

A man who was driving on I-94 from the west side of Michigan told police that he and his new girlfriend were being followed and fired at in Romulus by his ex-girlfriend.

Michigan State Police reported on Saturday that a driver called the Detroit Regional Communication Center around 11:05 p.m. on Friday stating a woman, 27, was f
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Police: Pipe bomb found near park on Lake St. Clair

GROSSE POINTE FARMS, Mich. – Officials report a pipe bomb was found at Pier Park on in Wayne County on Friday.

Police confirmed Saturday that the Grosse Pointe Farms Department of Public Safety responded to a call on Friday morning after a Pier Park employee discovered a suspicious-looking object near a pedestrian drop-off area. It is reported that the employee took the object and threw it into the nearby lake.

Following an initial alert to the public at 3:13 p.m. about the suspicious, officia
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Study shows over 25K rape kits in the United States are backlogged

New reports show that backlogged rape kits are leaving victims all over the United States waiting for answers.

USAFacts found that more than 25,000 kits from 30 states are still waiting to be tested -- but the actual number of rape kits waiting to be tested is still unknown. According to USAFacts, 20 states have denied, unanswered, or have data pending when it comes to the number of rape kits that are backlogged.

The Congressional Research Service has estimated that throughout the nation, ther
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Livingston County man arrested after holding woman captive, sexually exploiting her for over 5 years

UNADILLA TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A Livingston County man has been arrested after keeping a woman captive for over five years.

On Friday, Daryl Lanzon of Unadilla Township was arrested on a multiple-count felony arrest which the Livingston County Prosecutor’s Office issued.

Investigators from the Unadilla Township Police Department found that Lanzon isolated a woman from her family for several years. Officials say the woman is at least 20 years younger than Lanzon and was manipulated for many years.
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Motorcyclist killed when involved in collision with pickup truck in Oakland County

HOLLY TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A motorcyclist is dead after being involved in a crash with a pickup truck on Monday morning.

Michigan State Police reported on Monday a 53-year-old motorcyclist from Burton was traveling on Holly Road approaching an intersection before being involved in a crash.

While the motorcycle was traveling northbound, another vehicle, a 2002 Chevy pickup truck, was traveling southbound on Holly Road. While both vehicles approached the Belford and Holly Roads interaction, the pic
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Detroit police searching for person of interest in connection with 3 shootings, carjacking, barricade

DETROIT – An intense search is underway for a person of interest who is said to be connected with several recent crimes in Detroit, according to police.

Police are searching for a person of interest with connections to two fatal shootings, a carjacking, and one non-fatal shooting. The individual was barricaded in a Detroit home on Saturday night, but officers say they are still looking for him.

Officials say that the man, believed to be part of an “extremely violent group,” has not been locate
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Woman dies from injuries after partner crashes boat into dock in St. Clair County

ALGONAC, Mich. – A woman has died after being injured in a boating incident in St. Clair County.

Officials say a 23-foot boat crashed into a dock while attempting to park on Friday. On the boat, a 66-year-old woman from Clarkston was severely injured in the crash. The woman was transported to McLaren Macomb Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.

Police say that the driver of the boat was the woman’s partner. He was the only other occupant in the boat.

St. Clair County officials say th
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MSP: Shots fired in alleged Detroit hit-and-run crash on I-94

DETROIT – Police are investigating an incident in Detroit involving an alleged car crash and shooting on I-94.

Michigan State Police shared on social media that an alleged car crash followed by a shooting happened on Friday night around 10:50 p.m. on I-94.

Officials say that a St. Clair Shores woman, 44, reported she was involved in a hit-and-run crash involving shots being fired.

The 44-year-old woman alleges that she and another driver pulled over to the shoulder after she was rear-ended. T
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Customers arrested in connection to alleged threats made at West Michigan Taco Bell

HOLLAND, Mich. – Customers in two different incidents have been arrested for allegedly threatening Taco Bell employees in Holland.

Officials have reported that within 15 hours on April 30, two separate customers were arrested in connection to threatening employees at a West Michigan Taco Bell about 30 miles west of Grand Rapids.

The first incident took place around midnight, and the second occurred around 3:30 p.m. on the same day. Based on reports of the two situations, both customers posted
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Detroit mother fights for son’s innocence in house fire where firefighter was killed

DETROIT – A Detroit mother is fighting for her son’s innocence regarding a house fire that took place in 2008, where a firefighter was killed.

It has been over 14 years since the Detroit Fire Department lost one of its shining stars, firefighter Walter Harris. He was killed fighting a fire that a jury determined to be arson.

A man named Mario Willis is still in prison for that fire. But it’s a conviction that doesn’t add up to many, including his mother, Maxine.

Maxine loves to talk about her
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MSP: Teenage brother uses slingshot to help fight off man attempting to abduct 8-year-old sister

ALPENA, Mich. – A boy from Alpena Township helped fight off an attempted kidnapper using a slingshot to save his sister, says Michigan State Police.

Michigan State Police out of the seventh district reported that an 8-year-old girl was out mushroom hunting in her backyard on Wednesday when a suspect appeared out of the woods. WOOD, an NBC affiliate out of Grand Rapids, stated the suspect held the girl’s mouth shut, preventing her from screaming, and attempted to drag her into the woods near her
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‘Don’t let him get away’: Family of Detroit nurse found dead in Oakland County speaks out

DETROIT – The family of a Detroit nurse who was found over the weekend is speaking out about her death.

On Sunday, the body of Patrice Wilson was found in a trunk of an SUV outside of her Novi apartment complex.

The discovery of her body comes after reports that Wilson was kidnapped at a Detroit hospital after her nursing shift. Detroit police reported Saturday afternoon that they were looking for Jamere Miller, 36, in connection with the kidnapping of Wilson. Officials say that Miller, who wa
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Police: Woman who was kidnapped outside of Detroit hospital found dead in Novi

The body of a woman who was kidnapped outside of a Detroit Receiving Hospital over the weekend has been found.

Police say that Patrice Wilson, who was last seen on Saturday morning within the 4200 block of St. Antoine Street in Detroit, was found at an apartment complex in Novi off of Haggerty Road between 9 and 10 Mile Roads.

Officials say that Wilson was found in the back of an SUV and suffered a gunshot wound. It is unclear how many times Wilson was shot.

The suspect allegedly involved in
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Richard Wershe accused of attacking girlfriend in Miami after saying wrong woman’s name during sex

MIAMI – Richard Wershe, a famous former FBI informant turned drug dealer in Michigan, was arrested in Miami for attacking his girlfriend during an argument that stemmed from him saying another woman’s name during sex, officials said.

Police arrested “White Boy Rick” Wershe Jr., 53, on Tuesday, May 9, after he attacked his girlfriend at his condo in Miami, according to authorities.

WPLG News in Miami reports Wershe and his girlfriend got into an argument while they were having sex over the week
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Police identify man who threw chair through window of Downtown Detroit bar

DETROIT – A man who threw a chair through a window at a popular Downtown Detroit bar has been identified, police report.

UPDATE: Ira man charged with throwing chair through front window of Downtown Detroit speakeasy

On Tuesday, May 9, Detroit police announced that they know who picked up a chair outside of Cafe D’Mongos Speakeasy and threw it through the bar’s front window over the weekend.

The incident took place at about 4:41 a.m. on Sunday, May 7. In surveillance footage, the suspect could
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Former Western Michigan University officer arrested for allegedly uploading child porn to social media

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. – A former Western Michigan University officer has been arrested on child pornography charges.

Grant Traverse County Sheriff’s Office announced on Tuesday that ex-WMU officer Abraham Hohnke, 51, has been arrested and changes with three sounds of child sexually abusive material-aggravated possession, one count of using a computer to commit a crime, and a habitual offense second offense.

Officials say that an investigation was launched on April 5 when the FBI office in Trave
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Wayne County man pleads guilty to murder of Egypt Covington

VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP, Mich. – One of the three men involved in the Egypt Covington case has pleaded guilty to murder.

On Monday, officials announced that Shane Lamar Evans of Sumpter Township has pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder of Egypt Covington of Van Buren. Evans’ sentencing date is May 4, 2023.

Shandon Ray Groom, a 28-year-old from Toledo was charged on Dec. 31, 2020, with murder and home invasion three years after Covington was found bound and shot in her home.

The third man inv
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Michigan mother who claims SpongeBob SquarePants convinced her to kill daughter gets life in prison

TAWAS, Mich. – A Michigan mother who pleaded guilty to murdering her 3-year-old daughter claims SpongeBob SquarePants told her to commit the crime.

On Monday, Justine Johnson, of Tawas, was sentenced to life in prison for murdering her daughter Sutton Mosser, according to WILX an NBC affiliate in Lansing.

The Oscoda Township Police Department responded to a call to a Tawas home after a report of a small human foot seen sticking out from a garbage bag. Officials reported to Johnson’s home on Se
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Dearborn Heights landlord accused of sexually harassing several women looking for rental homes

DEARBORN HEIGHTS, Mich. – The owner and manager of 26 rental properties in Dearborn Heights is being sued by current and prospective tenants in a sexual harassment case.

According to the United States Department of Justice, Mohamad “Moe” Hussein, of Canton Township, has been sexually harassing women who live in his rentals or wanted to live in his rentals since 2017.

The complaints against Hussein accuse him of making sexual comments and advances toward these prospective and current tenants, i
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Michigan State Police: Body found at abandoned Boysville Juvenile Detention Center in Monroe County

FRENCHTOWN CHARTER TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A dead body was found at the abandoned Boysville Juvenile Detention Center in Frenchtown Charter Township, police say.

Michigan State Police were dispatched to the abandoned detention center, where they located a Monroe City resident. Police found Kayla Sedoskey on the floor inside the building and declared her dead at the scene.

Officials say that the cause of Sedoskey’s death is currently under investigation.

If anyone has any information, please get in
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Former Metro Detroit priest charged for sexually assaulting a child under 13

A 61-year-old priest has been charged due to child sex crimes in Wayne County.

Joseph “Jack” Baker, 61, of Wayne, was sentenced to 3-15 years in prison after being convicted of first-degree criminal sexual conduct sexual penetration with a person under 13.

Baker had been a pastor at St. Perpetua Parish in Waterford, Michigan, since 2008. Before that, he was a pastor at St. Mary Parish in Wayne, associate pastor at Sacred Heart Parish in Dearborn, and associate pastor at St. Hugo of the Hills P
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MSU Mass Shooting 2023

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‘First of all, I thank God’: Michigan State University victim shares recovery journey after mass shooting

That was how one of the Michigan State University victims started off her Facebook post on March 23 giving an update on her recovery. The Spanish phrase translates to “First of all, I thank God.”

Guadalupe Huapilla-Perez, an MSU junior, was one of the five students who were shot on campus the day before Valentine’s Day.

The junior was one of the first students to be identified, and a GoFundMe page was created for her by her older sister within a couple of days of the tragic event. As of March
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‘Alex was and is incredibly loved by everyone’: Clawson superintendent shares message about MSU victim

CLAWSON, Mich. – Michigan State Police identified biology and anthropology student Alexandria Verner as one of the victims who was fatally shot at Michigan State University on Monday night.

According to an email sent out to Clawson Public School families, the superintendent Billy Shellenbarger wrote that Verner, a 2020 Clawson High School student, was killed on campus.

“Alex was and is incredibly loved by everyone. She was a tremendous student, athlete, leader and exemplified kindness every da
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3 of 5 students hurt in Michigan State mass shooting no longer in critical condition

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Medical officials say two of the five students wounded when a gunman opened fire at Michigan State University have shown improvements and are no longer in critical condition.

On Monday, Feb. 13, three students were killed and five were injured when a shooter attacked two buildings on the East Lansing campus. The five injured students were hospitalized in Lansing and were originally listed in critical condition. Four of them required surgical intervention upon their arrival
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Michigan State officials update students on preparations for returning to campus

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State University leadership and police held a news conference Sunday afternoon to provide an update on the preparations for returning to classrooms on Monday.

You can watch the entire briefing in the video player above.

Officials confirmed that classes will start back up again on Monday, Feb. 20, 2023.

School officials also mentioned that the classes that took place in Berkey Hall and the MSU Union will be closed for the rest of the semester; 300 classes will be
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Funeral mass held for Alexandria Verner, Michigan State University shooting victim

CLAWSON, Mich. – A funeral service was held Saturday morning in Clawson for Alexandria Verner, a 20-year-old Michigan State University student who was killed when a gunman opened fire on campus.

Guardian Angels Catholic Church streamed the service on its Facebook page and website. The service began at 11 a.m.

Verner was studying integrated biology and anthropology, according to her LinkedIn profile. The 20-year-old was well known within the Clawson Public Schools and the Guardian Angels Cathol
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Morning 4: Whitmer shares plan for MSU community, Michigan after mass shooting -- and other news

Morning 4 is a quick roundup of stories we think you should know about to start your day. So, let’s get to the news.

Gov. Whitmer shares her plan for leading state after Michigan State mass shooting

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer opened up in an interview on Friday, five days after a gunman opened fire at her alma mater Michigan State University.

Whitmer was again tasked with leading the state of Michigan through another school shooting.

Recall Roundup: IKEA chairs, dog food, other recal
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‘How many more?’: Whitmer speaks at Michigan State vigil in honor of those killed during mass shooting

“Tonight I’m here as governor, as a mom of two college kids, as a fellow Spartan, as a fellow Michigander.

We know that there is no such thing as a quiet, shy Spartan, right? We’ll take this moment and live the action and memory of those that we lost and those that are fighting for their lives.

We Spartans show up and represent MSU everywhere. From our cars to our hats to our mugs. If there’s merch that exists, we own it. And you can spot us a mile away. And if you don’t see us, you hear us be
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Izzo delivers remarks at Michigan State vigil honoring 3 students who were killed in mass shooting

“Well, I normally speak more off the cuff, but when you’re following the governor, the President and doctors and you’re just a basketball coach, I decided to put a little more into it.

So I’d like to start by offering my condolences on behalf of my family Lupien, Steven, Raquel, and Steven was at one of the buildings two nights ago, about 10 minutes after things happened.

So sometimes we don’t understand. Because we haven’t been through it. That little moment brought me a little closer to unde
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Watch: Vigil honoring Michigan State University student at Clawson City Park

CLAWSON, Mich. – Michigan State Police identified biology and anthropology student Alexandria Verner as one of the victims who was fatally shot at Michigan State University on Monday night.

The Clawson community plans to come together three nights in a row to honor the recently deceased Michigan State Spartan.

The vigil will take place at the Clawson City Park football field on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night.

The Clawson vigil will start at 7:30 p.m.

Read -- ‘Alex was and is incredibl
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Watch: University of Michigan vigil in honor of 3 Michigan State students who were killed in mass shooting

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The University of Michigan held a vigil Wednesday night in support of the Michigan State University community as three MSU students were fatally shot on Monday.

The Big Ten university shared that the vigil will take place at the Diag at 7 p.m.

You can watch the University of Michigan vigil in the player above.

Read: Vigil at Michigan State University ‘Rock’ in honor of students killed during mass shooting

Below is a message from President Santa J. Ono on the MSU Campus sho
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What Michigan officials said morning after mass shooting at Michigan State University

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan officials spoke Tuesday morning during press conferences reflecting on the mass shooting that took place Monday night at Michigan State University.

It was futile that we were asking for people’s help even as they were being told to shelter in place, it really seemed like a strange needle to try to thread.

It ended up working the way exactly the way it was supposed to.

Below is a quote from Lansing Mayor Andy Schor:

“I do want to thank the Lansing residents who
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Police to begin protocol for Michigan State students who left their belongings in Berkey Hall, MSU Union

EAST LANSING, Mich. – A protocol is in the works at Michigan State University for students who left their belongings in Berkey Hall and the MSU Union during the mass shooting that occurred on Feb. 13.

Officials say a 43-year-old man opened fire on Michigan State University’s campus on Monday around 8 p.m.

Police said many students left their belongings behind on campus as they were told to “run, hide, fight.”

Michigan State Police and Public Safety tweeted on Tuesday that several personal bel
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New Jersey township cancels classes in response to Michigan State mass shooting

EWING, N.J. – A New Jersey school district canceled classes on Tuesday due to the mass shooting at Michigan State University.

Ewing Township Board of Education announced the closure at 10 a.m. after the New Jersey State Police notified the Ewing Police Department about the Michigan State University shooting.

Officials in Michigan reached out to city leaders in Ewing to tell them about a note that the 43-year-old man gunman had on him the night of the shooting. Ewing police posted on Facebook a

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