DETROIT (WWJ) -- Police say a 13-year-old boy was shot and killed in Southwest Detroit in a dispute about a stolen phone.
Detroit Police Department Commander of Major Crimes Michael McGinnis said the teen was acquainted with his killer, also a juvenile, as well as with the three additional suspects who were taken into custody following the slaying in a neighborhood on Tuesday.
Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, McGinnis said it does appear that the victim was targeted by the shooter, who ran to a home on Homer Street and opened fire.
McGinnis spoke about a motive for this crime.
"This is a circumstance where one juvenile committed a very violent act against another juvenile because of some sort of dispute over what's been alleged to be stolen cell phone," said McGinnis told reporters.
"...The details of the cell phone and whether it was stolen or not, that's all going to come out in the investigation," he added. "Just, ultimately, it was an argument over property that led to the death of one juvenile, and another juveniles is going to be taken away from his family for a very long time."
McGinnis said while the investigation is ongoing, he can say that charges are expected against one or more of the young suspects who were detained; one of them being the shooter.
McGinnis called on parents in Detroit to help police keep guns out of the hands of kids.
"Like I mentioned earlier, the juveniles in possession of the guns....we need to put a stop to that," McGinnis said.
"As far as incidents we've had with juveniles, it's too many. I mean, one homicide is too many. And then when you talk about with the kids and the homicides, it's out of control, and we are asking parents to help us help them."
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Police said multiple shots were fired at the victim as he stood outside his home around 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, at the corner of Mullane Street and Homer, near I-75.
The teen was shot once, according to Detroit Police Chief James White.
Officers from the 4th Precinct and Special Operations responded, and the teen was rushed to a local hospital where he died of his injuries.
The four suspects — two of them juveniles, and one of them 18 years old — took off running, but were tracked down by police and arrested not far from the scene.
McGinnis declined to comment on how many, or what type of guns were recovered.
The victim's name has not been released.
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