DETROIT (WWJ) -- A Detroit man could serve up to life in prison if convicted as charged in a shooting that authorities say was over a food delivery mix-up.
The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office announced Monday that 32-year-old Deon Ray Thomas has been charged with the attempted murder of a 31-year-old Dearborn Heights man, a 36-year-old Detroit woman and two 14-year-old boys on Detroit's west side.
According to investigators, shortly before 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 13, a food order was delivered to the wrong house on Penrod Street, near Schoolcraft.
The victims inside that home were then confronted by Thomas, a neighbor, who'd apparently ordered the food.
After an argument ensued and escalated, investigators allege that Thomas pulled out a gun and began shooting — wounding the 31-year-old man and the two teenage victims.
Police said Thomas was also wounded in what became a shootout.
A third 14-year-old ran to another home, police said. someone called 911, and officers converged on the scene.
Thomas, the injured Dearborn man and the two wounded teens were all taken to local hospitals for treatment.
The woman was not physically hurt, prosecutors said.
Speaking to reporters following the incident, Detroit Police Chief James White said at least 30 shots were fired.
The chief said police are doing their best in responding to these shootings, but opined that "people need to make better decisions."
"This level of violence is unacceptable; it's not something we're gonna tolerate," White added. "...We're not kidding around. If you violate the law, if you're using a weapon to resolve your dispute, you're going to go to jail. And when you've got 30 rounds fired in our community, it could've hit anybody."
The WCPO said Thomas has been charged with 24 felony counts, including: Four counts of Assault with Intent to Murder, four counts of Assault with Intent to do Great Bodily Harm, four counts of Felonious Assault, and 12 counts of Felony Firearm.
He was arraigned remotely from the hospital in 36th District Court Monday morning, and was given a $500,000 cash/surety bond.
He will be back in court for a bond redetermination hearing scheduled for April 19, followed by a Probable Cause Conference set for April 25.
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