HIGHLAND PARK (WWJ) - Police have released the cause of death for two rappers and their friend whose bodies were discovered in an abandoned apartment complex in Highland Park last week.
In an update on the triple homicide investigation on Tuesday morning, Michigan State Police said each of the three men -- Armani Kelly, 38, Montoya Givens, 31, and Dante Wicker, 31 -- were determined to have died due to "multiple gunshot wounds."
"The investigation also has revealed that this was not a random incident," state police added. "The investigation is continuing and detectives are making progress and we believe we may have determined a motive. Once more information is developed we will continue to update here."
The trio disappeared the night of Jan. 21 after a scheduled performance at Lounge 31 -- a club in the 7 Mile and Gratiot area of Detroit -- was cancelled, Detroit police said in an earlier briefing about the case.
According to police, Kelly's mother called authorities and reported her son missing on Jan. 23. A few days later on Jan. 27, Givens and Walker's family came forward after seeing a news report on Kelly's disappearance and realized the all three men who were acquainted with one another hadn't been seen or heard from.
Kelly was a native of Oscoda in Northern Michigan. Givens and Wicker were from Detroit and Mevindale. Investigative efforts were spearheaded by departments from the three cities, police said.
After nearly two weeks of searching, authorities appeared to make progress in the case after Detroit police raided a home and questioned a person of interest the night on Feb. 1.
The following day, MSP located three deceased victims in an empty Highland Park apartment building.
Shortly after the identities of the bodies were confirmed to be Kelly, Givens and Wicker, police also shared that they had arrested a suspect in connection with the men's suspicious deaths in Knoxville, Tenn.
This suspect was connected to a local teenager, who was taken into custody also on Feb. 2 for allegedly stealing the vehicle the three men were last seen driving.
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Police are continuing to investigate and say additional details will be released as they become available.
Anyone with any information about the case is asked to contact the Detroit Police Department's 6th Precinct at 313-596-2260 or call 911.
Tipsters who wish to remain 100% anonymous may report their information to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.