He killed German tourist for no reason. Now Michigan man has learned his sentence Police say man attacked tourist at Campus Martius in Downtown Detroit
Lawrence Deonte Gilchrist (WDIV)
DETROIT – A Michigan man who killed a German tourist for no reason has learned how long he will spend behind bars.
It happened in September 2024 near Campus Martius Park in Downtown Detroit. Police said Lawrence Deonte Gilchrist reportedly approached the man -- who was visiting from Bremen, Germany -- and hit him unprovoked . The tourist fell to the ground and hit his head.
He was taken to a hospital, where he died from his injuries several days later.
In January 2026, Gilchrist pleaded guilty to manslaughter, which lead to the dismissal of his second-degree murder charge.
On Feb. 6, Gilchrist was sentenced to eight to 15 years in the Michigan Department of Corrections.
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About the Author Dane Kelly headshot
Dane Kelly is an Oreo enthusiast and producer who has spent the last seven years covering Michigan news and stories.
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