(WWJ) Police are on the hunt for a 19-year-old suspect in the case of the protester who was shot and killed on the first night of civil unrest in Detroit following the death of George Floyd.
Detroit Police are looking for Tyjon Casaya-Scott Hites, who they suspect is the shooter in the case. Officers have already arrested Omoni Bryant, a 22-year-old believed to be an accomplice in the May 29th incident.
The victim has been identified as Javar Harrell, 21, of Eastpointe. Harrell was allegedly sitting in a silver Dodge Caliber with two other individuals when an unknown male -- potentially Hites -- approached the vehicle and fired shots into it. The three ran away from the car after the suspect started firing, but Harrell was hit in the process of escaping; according to police.
He died later at the hospital. The other two men were not hurt.
Police Chief James Craig said that he did not believe the shooting was "protest related" — and Wayne County Prosectuor Kym Worthy later announced that further investigation confirmed that fact.
"The investigation in this case has confirmed that this homicide was unrelated to the George Floyd protests," Worthy said. "The investigation into other aspects of this case continue; we cannot release anything further at this time."
Police had earlier released the below photo of the man who fired into the vehicle.
Bryant was arrested Monday, June 8 during a traffic stop near Evergreen and Plymouth. He was charged with one count of accessory after the fact to a felony and one felony firearm. His bond was set at $10,000.
While they hunt him down, Hites has been charged with first degree-premeditated homicide murder and felony firearm.
Detroit Police ask that anyone who has information on the location of Hites call the department at (313) 596-2260 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-Speak Up.
