One dead, 1 injured as a result of shooting at Michigan State Fair

NOVI — Chaos erupted at the Michigan State Fair in Novi during the late evening Aug. 31 as a shooting in the parking lot left a 14-year-old dead and another 14-year-old injured.

“The entire Michigan State Fair family grieves for the loss of such a young life and for all those affected,” a representative of the Michigan State Fair said in a prepared statement posted on the fair’s website Sept. 1.

The shooting occurred at 9:56 p.m. Aug. 31, just before the fair was to close, in a parking lot southwest of the Suburban Collection Showplace, where the fair is held, and not inside the fairgrounds. According to police, the incident appears to have been “targeted.” Two 14-year-old boys were shot and taken via ambulance to a nearby hospital where one died from his injuries. The other was released from the hospital Sept. 4.

The deceased was identified as Darean Davis, 14, of Detroit, by University High School in Ferndale, where he was a sophomore.

Davis and the other 14-year-old had taken two Ubers to the fair: One from Detroit to Farmington Hills and another with friends from Farmington Hills to the fair itself, police said.

“It appears this incident may have stemmed from an argument throughout the week which occurred in other communities that carried over to Saturday night and their arrival at the Fair parking lot,” Novi police said in a press release.

“The Novi Police Department responded to and is currently investigating an isolated incident at the Michigan State Fair,” Novi Police Chief Erick Zinser said in a prepared statement posted on the department’s X account shortly after midnight Sunday, Sept. 1. “Two victims were transported to a local hospital; one passed away from injuries. There is no threat to the community.”

Melissa Hill, owner of Bookish Daydreams, had a vendor booth at the fair and described the scene as “utter chaos.”

She said it happened approximately five to 10 minutes before the fair was to close for the evening. Hill said that her fellow vendors said they heard gunshots and she then heard that there was an active shooter at the fair. She said she saw members of a police SWAT team running past her booth inside the Suburban Collection Showplace with rifles and instinctively pulled her young son back.

“People were running everywhere and throwing their plates. Food was all over the ground. There were drinks spilled everywhere; it was chaos,” Hill said.

She said she had never seen so many police in one place before.

According to police, this was because the initial police radio traffic call came out as “an active shooter,” which prompted a very heavy police response from several surrounding law enforcement agencies.

Police were investigating at the scene until approximately 4 a.m. Sunday.

The investigation remained ongoing as of Sept. 10. Police had not much information in the way of a description available. Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact the Novi Police Department at (248) 348-7100.

As a result of the shooting, the State Fair increased its safety measures and cut back its evening hours. There was also an increased police presence at the event and attendees were asked to go through metal detectors.

“The Michigan State Fair and community law enforcement partners are committed to the safety of the guests and participants. Safety is the top priority and the State Fair had increased safety measures in place including weapons detection systems and increased police presence onsite,” a fair representative said in the prepared statement on its website. “After review of the incident with law enforcement officials, community leaders, and the Michigan State Fair operations team and Executive Committee, the Michigan State Fair will continue to operate with even further additional police presence and important adjustments to the closing hours and policies.”

The fair closed at 7 p.m. Sunday and Monday, which is three hours earlier than previously scheduled on Sunday and two hours earlier than previously scheduled on Monday. All attendees under the age of 18 were required to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to enter the fair.

“The Michigan State Fair is continuing this effort on behalf of the vital agricultural and livestock community and to honor and carry on the commitment to revive the great tradition of the Michigan State Fair,” the representative said in the posted statement.

Ticket refunds were to be available for those who desired one and who didn’t scan their ticket.