By: Brendan Losinski | Fraser-Clinton Chronicle | Published September 18, 2023
FRASER — On Sept. 7, 33-year-old Detroit resident Jeffery Clark was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the 2022 murder of Jerray Robertson.
The case was heard before Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Diane Druzinski and concluded with Clark’s conviction on July 27. He was convicted on all charges including first-degree premeditated murder, which carries a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole, as well as three felony weapons charges. The jury returned a guilty verdict on all counts in 45 minutes.
On July 4, 2022, the day of the murder, Fraser Department of Public Safety officers were dispatched to a parking lot in the area of Joy Street and Franklin Street, south of 13 Mile Road and east of Utica Road, to investigate a report about gunshots. Upon arrival, they discovered Robertson, 28, of Clinton Township, on the ground, shot five times in the abdomen and once in the arm.
Robertson was rushed to a nearby hospital, but he was pronounced deceased after he arrived.
Security camera footage recorded the incident. Prosecutors said that Clark chased down Robertson for supposedly harassing his girlfriend outside of her apartment in Roseville. They described Robertson as having been “executed” and said he was observed on the ground begging for his life, adding that after Clark shot him, he turned around and fired again after seeing he was still alive.
“Life in prison without parole is a fitting punishment for this act of first-degree murder,” Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido said in a press release. “Our dedicated team worked tirelessly to ensure that the defendant faced the consequences of his actions. We hope this serves as a testament to our commitment to upholding the law and protecting our community.”
Clark’s attorney, Steven Scharg, did not respond to requests for comment at press time.