Detroit Sees Rise In Violence As 29 Shot Over Father’s Day Weekend
Detroit Police point to rising tension in the city due to COVID-19, stay-home orders and police brutality protests as a cause for the uptick in violence.
More than two dozen Detroiters were shot over Father’s Day weekend, according to Detroit police.
29 people were shot over the weekend’s violence. Four were killed. Police Chief James Craig says some shootings had multiple victims.
“We recognize that there’s been tremendous tension in this city as well as others.” — Chief James Craig
Police say one incident was a ‘mass shooting’ event where five people survived the gun violence. Separately, the department says two girls — ages 9 and 10 — and their father were injured in another shooting. The violence follows a rising trend in homicides and shootings.
“Because of the COVID and the stay-at-home [order] there would be tremendous stress,” Craig says. “And what we’re seeing manifesting is these argument-based senseless shootings among people who are acquainted, who are attending block parties.”
He says the month’s anti-police brutality demonstrations may also be contributing to the spike.
The Detroit Police Department says 134 people have been killed in 2020, 33 more people than this time last year. Non-fatal shootings are up nearly 55 percent.
Craig says the holiday’s violence in Detroit follows a national trend, with a spike in weekend shootings occurring in Chicago and New York City.
“We recognize that there’s been tremendous tension in this city as well as others,” Craig says.
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