DETROIT – The man accused of murdering a well-known Detroit doctor appeared in court on Monday, June 23, 2025.
Desmond Burks, 34, was in court for a preliminary examination in connection with the death of 53-year-old Dr. Devon Hoover.
The hearing began on Monday, June 23, and was in session until just before noon.
The judge said the hearing will resume tomorrow, Tuesday, June 24, at 9 a.m.
Here are some facts to know about the case:
- Dr. Devon Hoover was found dead at his home in Detroit’s Boston-Edison Historic District on Sunday, April 23, 2023. He was a neurosurgeon at Ascension Hospital in Detroit at the time of his death.
- Police found his body wrapped in a carpet in the attic of his house.
- An autopsy confirmed he died from two gunshot wounds to his head.
- Desmond Burks was charged in Hoover’s death after he was arrested in an unrelated road rage case.
Read more: Man charged in well-known Detroit doctor’s murder to appear in court. Here’s everything we know
Media coverage rules:
We’ll have live updates for you throughout this hearing, but there are a few rules from the judge regarding media coverage.
According to an order filed by 36th District Court Judge Shawn K. Jacque, we cannot:
- Live stream the hearing
- Show or publish the faces of any witnesses
- Show or publish the names of any witnesses
- Play or publish the voices of any witnesses (unless their voices are concealed or disguised)
Here are the full updates from the first day of Desmond Burks’ preliminary examination:
Hearing ends for the day
- 11:58 a.m. Monday
The hearing has ended for Monday, June 23, and will resume tomorrow, Tuesday, June 24.
It is scheduled to resume at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, but the judge expects it to actually get started at around 9:30 a.m.
The same family member of Burks will be testifying Tuesday morning.
Burks tries to speak to the witness
- 11:55 a.m. Monday
The prosecution wants to present the calls the witness received from Burks, but there are time constraints, so the hearing is ending for today and will resume tomorrow.
As the witness left the stand, Burks tried to talk to them.
The judge told him he isn’t allowed to talk to any of the witnesses.
Witness receives calls from Burks after his arrest
- 11:54 a.m. Monday
When Burks was arrested, the witness said they received calls from Burks.
Burks was seen laughing during this person’s testimony.
Surveillance video played in court
- 11:50 a.m. Monday
The surveillance video of Hoover’s SUV was played in court. It was the video that the family member identified Burks from.
The witness also identified Burks from a screenshot from the surveillance video, which was shown in court.
Burks identified in video footage
- 11:47 a.m. Monday
After looking at surveillance video from the police, the witness said they recognized the person in it as Burks by the way they were walking.
Burks limped because he got shot
- 11:46 a.m. Monday
This witness said Burks walked with a limp because he had been shot.
Second witness called to testify
- 11:44 a.m. Monday
A family member of Burks was called to testify next.
Footage shows officers arrive at Hoover’s home
- 11:41 a.m. Monday
The video shows an officer knocking on Hoover’s front door, before two officers get back into their vehicle to go to the back door.
Body cam footage shows that the back gate was left open.
An officer knocked on the back door, along with another door and windows located near the side of the house.
They didn’t make contact with anyone at the house.
Body cam footage
- 11:37 a.m. Monday
The prosecution plays body camera footage from an officer who responded to Hoover’s home on April 22, 2023, in court.
Blood in vehicle
- 11:30 a.m. Monday
The defense asked the officer if he could tell if the blood in the vehicle was dry or wet, and he could not.
First witness cross-examined
- 11:28 a.m. Monday
The officer said he was alone when he got the call about Hoover’s vehicle.
The defense attorney argued that the Range Rover had “significant tinting.”
Officer saw blood in front, back seats
- 11:25 a.m. Monday
The officer said he made all his observations from outside the car and didn’t go inside it.
He saw blood in the front and back seats.
Hoover identified as SUV’s owner
- 11:22 a.m. Monday
The officer said they learned Hoover was the registered owner of the SUV.
The address associated with the vehicle was Hoover’s Boston-Edison address, and he had other officers go check his home.
Officer responded to call about SUV
- 11:19 a.m. Monday
The Detroit officer responded to the call about Hoover’s SUV being found on Coyle Street.
The officer said the neighbor told him a white Range Rover was blocking their driveway.
He said he ran the plate and learned that the car wasn’t entered in as being stolen.
He saw blood on the backseat and the steering wheel of the vehicle.
First witness called
- 11:17 a.m. Monday
The first witness was called to testify. This witness is a police officer.
911 call about SUV blocking driveway
- 11:14 a.m. Monday
The 911 call about Hoover’s SUV blocking a driveway in the 9900 block of Coyle Street was played in court.
The caller told dispatch that the white Range Rover was parked across the street, and then, after the caller left and came back, it was blocking their driveway.
Report shows Hoover was shot, dragged
- 11:09 a.m. Monday
Hoover was found nude and wrapped in a carpet.
The medical examiner’s report shows that Hoover was shot first behind the right ear and then on the back of the head.
Abrasions indicate his left lower face was on the ground for at least one of the gunshot wounds, and his body was dragged after his death.
Medical examiner’s report
- 11:06 a.m. Monday
The prosecution reads the medical examiner’s report for Hoover.
Media rules
- 11:01 a.m. Monday
The judge reads the media rules to the courtroom. He said that there are concerns about concealing witnesses’ identities from the public due to threats on both sides.
He also told the public present in the courtroom that they cannot provide names to the press after the court session is over.
Burks’ case called
- 10:56 a.m. Monday
Burks’ case has been called, and he has entered the courtroom.
Judge goes over media coverage rules
- 10:56 a.m. Monday
The judge is reiterating the media coverage rules for Burks’ preliminary examination.
Burks initially questioned, released
- 10:54 a.m. Monday
On April 28, 2023, less than a week after Hoover was killed, a person of interest was questioned by police.
The prosecutor didn’t identify the person at the time, but later confirmed that the person being questioned was Burks.
He was released on May 2, 2023.
Burks still hadn’t been identified or charged at this point in the case, but the prosecutor later said their investigation had focused on him
Hoover’s cause of death
- 10:45 a.m. Monday
An autopsy confirmed that Hoover died after he was shot twice in the back of his head.
Other cases still being called
- 10:36 a.m. Monday
Testimony wrapped up in that other case, but now the judge is hearing someone else’s case. Burks’ case hasn’t been called yet.
How police found Hoover’s body
- 10:26 a.m. Monday
After receiving a welfare check request from a family member, officers went back to Hoover’s home.
They saw the gate was still open and discovered blood on the back door.
Officers entered the home and found Hoover’s body wrapped in a blood-soaked carpet in an attic crawl space.
Cross-examination in other case
- 10:17 a.m. Monday
The witness testifying in the case called before Burks’ preliminary examination is being cross-examined.
Witness testifies in other case
- 10:10 a.m. Monday
The judge is currently hearing a witness testify in another case. Burks’ case hasn’t been called yet.
Welfare check
- 10:01 a.m. Monday
The day after the SUV was found, a family member of Hoover contacted Detroit police for a welfare check.
They said Hover was supposed to visit his dying mother in Indiana, but never showed up.
Hoover’s SUV found
- 9:51 a.m. Monday
Before Hoover was found dead, his vehicle was found in the 9900 block of Coyle Street, on the far west side of Detroit.
Officers received a complaint about the vehicle blocking a driveway. They arrived, found the white Range Rover and saw what was believed to be blood on the inside.
When they took it to a local tow yard, they learned it belonged to Hoover.
They went to Hoover’s home later that evening and saw the gate was open, but couldn’t get in contact with anyone at the house.
Other cases being called
- 9:41 a.m. Monday
Court is in session, but other cases are still being called. Burks’ case hasn’t been called yet.
Road rage case charges
- 9:33 a.m. Monday
On May 15, 2024, four days after Saleh died, Burks was taken into custody.
He was charged with second-degree murder in connection with Saleh’s death and given a $1 million bond.
After these charges were issued, Burks was charged in Hoover’s death following an extensive investigation, according to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office.
Unrelated road rage case
- 9:24 a.m. Monday
Nearly a year after Hoover was found dead in his Detroit home, Burks was allegedly involved in an unrelated road rage attack.
The attack happened at around 6:45 p.m. on April 17, 2024, at the intersection of West Chicago Street and Greenfield Road in Detroit.
Police said Reda Saleh, 67, of Dearborn, bumped into the back of Burks’ car. After that, the two men got out of their cars and started to argue.
Burks then allegedly punched Saleh and left him lying in the street.
Police found Saleh unresponsive with a serious head injury. He was taken to a local hospital, but died from his injuries on May 11, 2024.
Burks’ charges
- 9:17 a.m. Monday
Burks was charged in connection with Hoover’s murder on Aug. 7, 2024.
He was charged with first-degree murder, felony murder, larceny over $20,000, using a computer to commit a crime, and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Burks was also charged with three second-offense felony firearms violations. Those are connected to the two murder charges and the possession of a firearm charge.
Court begins
- 9:10 a.m. Monday
Court is in session, but Burks’ case hasn’t been called yet. The judge is going through other cases.