DETROIT (WWJ) – An Eastpointe man has been charged with first-degree murder after allegedly shooting a Detroit man over a dispute at a barbeque last weekend.
Deveius Monta Weathers, 29, is accused of shooting 31-year-old Ronnie Ray on Sunday and then barricading himself inside a Detroit home with a kidnapped 2-year-old the following day.
Weathers was eventually arrested after a five-hour standoff with Detroit police. He has been arraigned on charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping, carrying a concealed weapon, third-degree fleeing and eluding and felony firearm.
Detroit police officers were called to a home in the 8230 block of Pierson Street around 9:30 p.m. on the report of a shooting.
When officers showed up, they found Ray lying in the driveway with multiple gunshot wounds. Ray was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators learned Weathers and Ray had gotten into an argument at a barbeque at a friend's house that night. While officials haven't said what sparked the dispute, it escalated to violence when Weathers pulled out a handgun and allegedly shot Ray twice, before fleeing the scene in his car.
The next morning, investigators were led to a home in the 8490 block of Heyden Street – a few blocks away from the scene of the alleged murder, in the area of Evergreen and Joy.
Officers spotted Weathers backing his car out of a driveway and when they tried to pull him over, he sped away and ran into a house on Pierson near the site of the shooting a night prior.
Authorities say Weathers barricaded himself in the upstairs of the home with a two-year-old girl that he kidnapped. Officials have not disclosed the relationship between Weathers and the girl.
After a tense five hours, Weathers exited the home holding the girl in front of him and he was arrested by Detroit police officers.
Weathers is scheduled for a probable cause conference on Sept. 8. If convicted of the first-degree murder charge, Weathers would be looking at a mandatory life sentence.
