Detroit mayor: entire city is grieving Deontae Mitchell

All 3 suspects in custody after 13-year-old Detroit boy killed

DETROIT – Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said Friday that the entire city is grieving with the family of a 13-year-old boy who was abducted from outside a market and later found dead in a field.

“The tragedy of Deontae Mitchell has touched the hearts of all Detroiters,” Duggan said during a joint news conference with Police Chief James Craig.

“The most terrible moment of being the mayor of Detroit is when the phone rings late at night and I see it’s coming from Chief Craig,” Duggan said. “These calls are coming too often. There’s just too much violence.”

Deontae disappeared Tuesday night. His cousin told police they were outside Nino's Market on East warren Avenue when Deontae was forced into a car by a man with a gun. 

Video shows Deontae being pursued by a man who grabbed the boy by his arm and forced him into a car.

Police believe that man was 45-year-old Gregory Walker, who was arrested Thursday with a woman in Toledo, Ohio.

Mitchell's body was discovered at about 8:30 a.m. Thursday in a field near Harper Avenue and Baldwin Street. 

The autopsy was completed Friday and the cause of death is pending. The Wayne County Medical Examiner said there is no indication of gunshot wounds.

Related: Vigil held for Deontae Mitchell

4 in custody

Early in the investigation, police released photos of Walker and surveillance video from the store to try to find him.

READ: Suspect in abduction of missing Detroit teen arrested in Ohio

Walker was found Thursday morning in a motel room in Toledo, Ohio, and was taken into custody. A woman who was with Walker is also in custody, but on an unrelated felony warrant. 

Police announced they were looking for two more men Thursday morning: Ernest Coleman and Roy Portis.

Coleman, 30, was taken into custody Thursday afternoon.

Portis, 51, was taken into custody Friday morning. 

Anyone with information on the abduction of Deontae Mitchell is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-SPEAK-UP.

 

 

 

 

 


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