DEARBORN (WWJ) Dearborn Police announced a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in a road rage shooting that claimed the life of a 19-year-old woman.
Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud joined Police Chief Issa Shahin to announce the reward for information leading to justice for the family of Rawan Baseti of Dearborn Heights, who was killed just over a month ago.
“Rawan was a daughter, a sister, but also a daughter to this community,” Hammoud said. “Her life was taken far too soon. The commitment of this city and this police department is to deploy every resource and asset we have to bring the perpetrators to justice. This is an opportunity to bring closure to this family.”
Dearborn Police said, just before 10 p.m. on February 21, they responded to the intersection of Tireman and West Morrow Circle on the reports of shots fired at a vehicle. Police believed the shooting followed a traffic altercation near Warren Avenue and the Southfield Freeway.
Witnesses said the suspect cut off Baseti’s vehicle—and she followed his Chrysler onto Tireman and the Southfield Service Drive in an apparent attempt to obtain its license plate information, police said.
They said the suspect turned north onto Cheyenne Street in east Dearborn and fired “several shots” at Baseti’s vehicle. One bullet went through the windshield, killing her.
Two women in her car were unharmed, police said.
Her death has shattered her family.
“Losing Rawan is me losing my whole life,” her sister, who did not want to be named, said. “That’s my heart. She loved teddy bears.”
Her older brother, Hani Baseti, remembered her as “beautiful inside and out.”
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call Dearborn Police at (313) 943-2225. If you would like to remain anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAKUP.
J&T Crova Towing, the Islamic Center of Detroit, and Rod Issa and Sons all contributed to the reward. Crime Stoppers of Michigan also added to the amount and will administer the reward.
“To say that my family and I are devastated or heartbroken is an understatement. Losing Rawan broke us,” Hani said. “We urge anyone who’s seen or heard anything to speak up so that my beautiful baby sister can get the rest she deserves.”