DETROIT – Wooden boards and barricades covered more than half a dozen windows at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center in Detroit.
It was the aftermath of an early morning act of vandalism.
“What stands out is the pure stupidity of it,” Asst. Detroit Police Chief Charles Fitzgerald said on Friday (July 18) afternoon. They know exactly where they’re at. I’m not sure if they were out joyriding or goofing around. It’s not funny, not entertained by it all, they’re gonna have to answer to it, so we really need the community’s help.”
The boarded-up windows drew looks from passers-by headed to the African World Festival in Hart Plaza on Friday afternoon.
Seven windows were damaged during the incident that happened just before 5 a.m. on Friday. A gray sedan was driving westbound on Jefferson Avenue when it began shooting at the City County Building.
Police say someone who was sitting on a nearby bench saw the car but didn’t hear any shots, and there was no immediate 911 call.
“The vehicle continued westbound, went down to Shelby, turned back around, came up Larned,” Fitzgerald said. “It fired off another round, which we’re believing is most likely going to be a pellet gun or a BB gun, because there was no audible sound.”
The car eventually fled north on the Lodge Freeway. It wasn’t until an hour later, around 6 a.m., that security and clean-up crews noticed the shattered and damaged windows.
No one was injured in the incident, but police are searching for suspects.
“I would say go to the nearest precinct, just turn yourself in, so we can talk about what you did,” Fitzgerald said. “And hopefully, it might lessen some of the impact you’re gonna feel.”
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Detroit Police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-Speak-Up.
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