OXFORD (WWJ) A Flint man, and previously convicted felon, was charged with 19 felonies for a triple shooting in Oxford on Christmas Eve that killed a longtime clinical psychologist, injured her daughter and one other, the Oakland County Sheriff's Office said.
Dr. Barbara Wolf, 71 of Oxford Township, died in the shooting. She had a long-standing affiliation with McLaren Health Care. She was also the director of Behavioral Medicine Education at Michigan State University (MSU) since 1995, and assistant professor at MSU College of Human Medicine, according to her MSU faculty page.
Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald charged Malik Letroy Webb, 29, with Felony Murder in Wolf's death, three counts of Assault With Intent To Murder, Carjacking, nine counts of Felony Firearm (third offense), Carrying a Concealed Weapon, Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person, and three counts of Felonious Assault.
Webb faked single-vehicle car crashes—then “terrorized”, injured or murdered the Good Samaritans who stopped to check on him, the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office described.
“This was a senseless murder and rampage, terrorizing seven different victims. I have authorized the highest possible charges, and my office will fight vigorously for justice for these victims,” McDonald said. “While this appears to be a random shooting, it is devastating for our entire community even more so because it happened during the middle of the holidays. My thoughts are with the victims and their families.”
The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office said Webb shot and killed Wolf when she stopped to help him after he drove his car into a ditch on Ray Road at North Oxford Road around 6:15 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
Webb also shot Wolf’s 38-year-old daughter— who was riding with her mother at the time, the sheriff’s office said.
Prosecutors said the rampage began to unfold "in quick succession" moments before Wolf was shot— when the defendant allegedly pulled into a parking lot near the corner of M-24 and Oakwood, struck a wooden pole, backed up, almost hit another car and then rammed into the pole again. Two women, 28 and 54, asked the defendant if he was okay.
“He responded by pointing a handgun at them,” the Oakland County Prosector's Office press release read.
He then encountered Wolf and her daughter.
According to prosecutors; he ran up to Wolf’s car and attempted to get inside, then fired multiple shots into it as they tried to get away.
A 56-year-old man, driving with his wife in their truck, stopped to help.
Webb climbed onto the truck’s running board, stating he was lost and needed help getting somewhere. He also said people were hurt and needed assistance. Webb pointed a gun at the driver and tried to pry open the rear door of the truck. He shot the driver in the arm, prosecutors said.
Deputies later found a 39-year-old Oxford Township woman who had been coming from the Park & Ride. She told investigators Webb had placed a gun to her head in an attempt to drive away with her car, the sheriff’s office said.
Deputies took Webb into custody “without incident” and recovered a 9 mm handgun from the crime scene.
“This vile and disturbing violent act is so heinous on multiple levels and the suspect deserves to be held fully accountable and never see the light of day,” Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said. “This is another tragic case where a convicted felon with past weapons offenses was out too early and in a position to hurt others.”
Wolf was rushed to the hospital where she died from her injuries. One of the victims remains in serious condition “with multiple significant injuries.” The other was treated and released.
Webb was arraigned Saturday in 52-1st District Court in Novi. He was denied bond—and will be held at the Oakland County Jail.
He is due back in court on January 6th.
If convicted on Felony Murder, he faces mandatory life in prison without the possibility of parole.
“There must be charges in our criminal justice system that prevent people who had been caught carrying and using weapons illegally from simply being cycled back out to help others…” Bouchard said. “Instead, we have a grieving family that will now mark a treasured time of year as a reminder of this preventable murder.”