DETROIT – A Detroit man is accused of shooting a 17-year-old four times during an argument over grass clippings. But he‘s telling a very different story.
Raymond Deaendre Durning, 58, of Detroit, is accused of shooting a 17-year-old boy around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in the 9270 block of Pierson Street on Detroit’s west side.
Durning is charged with assault with intent to murder, assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent, and three felony firearm violations.
You can watch the full arraignment in the video above.
Prosecutors explain accusations
During the arraignment Friday afternoon at 36th District Court, prosecuting attorney Rhonda Haidar said Durning is a tenant of the 17-year-old’s father.
Haidar said the 17-year-old was mowing the lawn at the house next door to where Durning lives -- that property is also owned by the teen’s father.
“The defendant comes out while the victim is mowing the lawn and confronts him about some lawn clippings,” Haidar said. “An argument ensues. The argument concludes, and the alarming part here is the defendant goes inside of his home, retrieves a firearm, comes outside, and shoots the victim four times.”
She said the teen was shot in the groin, shoulder, and hand.
Durning’s wife called 911 when she saw her husband getting the gun, and he admits to possessing it and pointing it at the teen, according to Haidar.
“It’s unprompted and over lawn clippings, which is really unfortunate,” Haidar said.
Durning’s side of the story
The defense attorney told a very different story, pointing out that Durning is a licensed CPL holder with no criminal history.
“It’s our position … that he was getting beaten on by two people outside of his own home,” the defense attorney said. “Now, there’s some dispute over a lawnmower, my client comes outside, but according to the witness … indicates that my client was getting beat up by two different people.”
When the judge asked the defense attorney to clarify, he said the 17-year-old was outside with his father, the property owner.
Durning went outside and got into a verbal argument with the father, the defense attorney said. The 17-year-old inserted himself into the situation, the attorney said.
According to the defense, Durning was beaten by the father and son, ending up on his back.
Durning then went into the house, and the 17-year-old started banging on the door, hurling insults and threats, according to the defense.
That’s when Durning allegedly walked outside with a gun, and there was a scuffle over the gun, his attorney said.
Bond arguments
The defense argued that since Durning is a CPL holder and has no criminal history, he is not a danger to the community.
Haidar argued that the CPL license makes Durning’s case even more concerning.
“Mr. Durning as a CPL (holder) is extremely concerning because he has training in firearms and he knows exactly when it would have been appropriate to have pulled out a firearm in this situation, and it just wasn’t,” Haidar said. “The altercation, the back-and-forth, that was over. He went back inside his house, and instead of calling the police, he decided to retrieve a firearm. That’s the conduct that’s extremely concerning. Then he used that firearm on a 17-year-old over an argument over lawn clippings.”
Prosecutors asked for a high cash bond and expressed concerns about Haidar being released to a home that’s linked to the complaining witness.
Durning said he’s been renting the property month to month for about a year and a half. He said he has somewhere else to stay and no plans to continue renting that property.
The defense attorney said Durning works for a bus driving company but is currently on medical leave because of a previous car crash.
Bond decision
The judge determined that because Durning is a CPL holder without a criminal history, the appropriate bond conditions were to place him on house arrest with a tether.
He gave Durning a $100,000 personal bond and said he must wear a GPS tether. He’ll be on house arrest at a place that’s not owned by the father. He isn’t allowed to have contact with the witnesses or possess weapons, and he can only leave the house arrest location for court or medical appointments.
A probable cause conference is scheduled for May 22, and a preliminary examination is scheduled for May 29.