DETROIT (WWJ) - A rally to decry the sexual assault of an 80-year-old Detroit woman descended into chaos and shots fired on Thursday evening after attendees chased down a man who appeared to match the description of the suspect.
As reported by WWJ's Charlie Langton, the rally was organized by Detroit activist Malik Shabazz days after police began searching for a suspect who broke into a home in the 12000 block of Memorial Street – near the Southfield Freeway and Plymouth Road – around 9 p.m. Sunday and sexually assaulted an elderly woman.
The group consisting of half a dozen volunteers gathered at 1 p.m. on March 30 and were passing out Crime Stoppers of Michigan flyers with an artist's sketch of the suspect when Langton said a man bearing a similar appearance to the rapist's description showed up.
"There was a chase says we hear and then shots were fired," Langton reported.
The man ran east down Glendale before turning north on Abington Avenue. The man eventually lost his pursuers as he sprinted east on Davison, Shabazz said.
"Now the police were called," Langton said, but while the caller was on the phone with police, an explosion of gunfire went off. "They said that somebody was firing shots in the air."
Police arrived at the scene and investigated, but Langton said they believed someone fired into the air. No injuries were reported.
Langton said the suspect got away, but investigators are still looking into Thursday's incident as well as searching for the suspect connected to the sexual assault case from last weekend.
According to Detroit police, Sunday night's encounter began when the male suspect asked the woman for money and after she told him she didn't have any, he forced her outside where he assaulted her.
Police officials say the suspect is about 160 lbs., with a slim build, dark brown almond eyes, dark brown complexion and clean shaven.
He was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and black jeans with a red, yellow and blue tag on the pocket.
Detroit police released video of the suspect walking along a sidewalk in a neighborhood as well as a sketch of the man in hopes the public can help identify him.
Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for tips that lead to the man's arrest.
Detroiter Christian Mathis, a rapper who goes by the stage name 'Trick Trick', offered an additional $5,000 reward in a post to Instagram on Monday,
Authorities are asking anyone who recognizes the man or knows something about the assault to call Detroit Police at 313-596-1950.
Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP or visiting http://detroitrewards.tv.