PONTIAC (WWJ) — The Oakland County Sheriff's Office has announced the arrest of the alleged gunman in connection with the shooting death of a 7-year-old-girl in Pontiac, but the driver of the vehicle used in the shooting remains at large.
The OCSO said in a press release on Thursday that a reward of up to $10,000 is now offered for information leading to the arrest of 17-year-old JaJuan Calvin McDonald of Pontiac.
Police allege McDonald was the driver of the orange SUV used in the gang-related shooting on Friday afternoon which killed Ariah Jackson as she was coming home from school with her mother and other family members.
Ariah was shot in the back of the head and was taken to a local hospital where she died of her injuries a day later.
Authorities said Ariah's mother first noticed an orange late-model Chevrolet Blazer drive past her as she was waiting at the bus stop for her two children and two nieces returning from school. After she picked up the kids and put them in her car, she drove then back to her home near Paddock and Wilson in Pontiac, just before 5 p.m.
As she went to park her vehicle, the mom noticed the orange SUV driving towards them and and gunshots were fired at her car. Ariah was sitting in the backseat when she was hit once in the back of the head, police said.
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The mother was grazed by a bullet to her head, but denied medical treatment and was released from the hospital.
The other three girls, aged 6, 7 and 11, were unharmed.
According to authorities, McDonald was behind the wheel of the orange SUV; while the shooter, dressed in black, hung out one of the SUV's windows and started shooting. A total of eight shots were fired at the family, police said.
The suspected shooter was apprehended on Wednesday night in Troy with the help of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; detectives will work to secure warrants on Thursday to charge the suspect with several felonies, to include first-degree murder.
The suspected gunman's name and age have not been released by authorities.
“I am proud of our team and grateful for the assistance of ATF agents as they worked seamlessly to quickly identify the suspects in this horrific and senseless murder of an innocent child,” Sheriff Michael Bouchard said. “The wrong people are afraid in our community. We must make those that carry and use weapons illegally and perpetrate this violence the ones that are fearful of the certainty of long prison time. Children coming home from school should never be afraid. These suspects must be held accountable.”
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McDonad, however, remains at large, authorities said.
The suspected teen driver has been charged as an adult with first-degree murder, four counts of assault with intent to murder and four counts of possession of a firearm while in the commission of a felony.
A first-degree murder conviction carries carries a mandatory life prison term without parole, the OCSO said.
Anyone with information about where McDonald could be has been asked to contact Crime Stoppers of Michigan at 1-800-SPEAK UP (1-800-773-2587).
Tipsters will remain 100% anonymous.
Online tips can be submitted here.
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