DETROIT (WWJ) A Romulus man was arraigned on multiple felonies connected to the shooting of two young people during the Ford Fireworks.
Prosecutor Kym Worthy charged Alphonso Cooper Jr., 19, in connection to the non-fatal shootings of a 17-year-old Van Buren Township boy and a 22-year-old Ferndale woman.
Prosecutors said, on June 23 around 10:00 p.m., Detroit Police were in the area of Randolph Street and Cadillac Square when they heard "multiple gunshots". Officers responded to the area of Randolph and Larned where they saw the 17-year-old victim with multiple gunshots to his legs and the 22-year-old with a gunshot to her right hand. Medics rushed both victims to the hospital-- where they were treated.
According to police, Cooper and the 17-year-old got into a physical altercation. Cooper allegedly pulled out a handgun and fired multiple shots before fleeing the scene. The 22-year-old was an innocent bystander, police said.
A Detroit Police investigation led to Cooper's arrest on July 7.
Cooper was charged with two counts of Assault with Intent to Murder, two counts of Assault with Intent to do Great Bodily Harm, one count of Carrying a Concealed Weapon, and four counts of Felony Firearm.
He was arraigned Thursday morning (7/10) in 36th District Court. He was given a $500,000 bond. If posted, he will be forced to go on house arrest and wear a GPS tether. He is due back in court on July 14.
“These shootings allegedly occurred because the defendant could not handle a disagreement and introduced a deadly weapon into the mix," Worthy said. "This defendant did not care that there were hundreds of potential victims in the area. Bullets have no eyes, and it is extremely fortuitous that more fireworks attendees were not injured."