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Charges dropped after misunderstanding leads to shooting of lost autistic man

Man was mistakenly dropped off in the wrong neighborhood by rideshare service

DETROIT – Charges were dismissed against Robert Lequan Pugh, 47, in the nonfatal shooting of an 18-year-old autistic man who was lost.

Court documents revealed on Friday (May 16) that the charges were dismissed without prejudice.

Officials said the incident occurred due to a misunderstanding with the autistic teen on Detroit‘s east side.

According to authorities, the 18-year-old man with autism from River Rouge was mistakenly dropped off near the intersection of Lenox Street and East Warren Avenue in Detroit on April 9.

He reportedly took a photo of a house on Lenox Street to send to a relative to help locate him when Pugh confronted him.

When the victim began to walk away from the home, Pugh allegedly fired multiple shots from a handgun, hitting the 18-year-old in the back.

The victim was taken to a hospital for treatment.

Pugh turned himself in to police on Tuesday, April 15, 2024. He was given a $100,000 cash/surety bond.


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