Man killed, dog also shot inside home on Detroit's east side

Man's body found in home on Promenade Street near East Outer Drive

DETROIT – A 52-year-old man was found shot to death Thursday inside his home on Detroit's east side.

Police said Clarence Reynolds' body was discovered by his friends at the home on Promenade Street south of East Outer Drive. The victim's dog also had been shot.

Residents of the east-side neighborhood were in shock as a massive homicide investigation unfolded throughout Thursday morning. Officials said Reynolds' friends came around 8 a.m. to pick him up for breakfast.

When they got to the home, the front door was shattered and they could see blood, officials said.

"They called to have him to come out," Detroit police Capt. Mark Thornton said. "Obviously, there was no response."

Police confirmed Reynolds had been fatally shot.

As homicide investigators swarmed the area, Animal Control officials were also called because one of Reynolds' two dogs had been shot.

"There were a couple of dogs that were inside," Thornton said. "It looks like one dog was actually injured, as well. We're not allowing anybody or anything into the scene because we don't want to contaminate it. We want to make sure that we're able to get all the evidence that we can, because it is a homicide scene at this particular point in time."

Investigators are now going door to door, asking neighbors if they saw or heard anything or if they have cameras that might have captured video of the killer.

"He was a good uncle to us," a member of Reynolds' family said. "He didn't bother anybody."

Neighbors watched as the injured dog was removed from the home with a gunshot wound. A woman who befriended Reynolds said she would often check on him, but Thursday morning she noticed that his front door was shattered.

"He's been in this house about two years," Thornton said. "He seemed to be liked by the neighbors."

Reynolds went by the name "Mohammed." He lived alone but always had his dogs with him, family members said. 

"Those dogs were his kids," said Reynolds' niece, Kwanna Luchie.

Detroit police said a major clue is missing in the investigation: Reynolds' van is gone. They are searching for the van, which is purple and has license plate BNU-006.

"Whoever did this to my uncle, they didn't have to shoot the dog or shoot him," Luchie said. "They didn't even have to do that."


About the Authors:

Local 4 Defender Shawn Ley is an Emmy award-winning journalist who has been with Local 4 News for more than a decade.

Derick is the Lead Digital Editor for ClickOnDetroit and has been with Local 4 News since April 2013. Derick specializes in breaking news, crime and local sports.