Police continue to search for leads in murders

MADISON HEIGHTS — Two separate killings that happened roughly a month apart during the holiday season remain unsolved, and authorities are asking the public for help solving each case.

The more recent killing occurred just before Christmas, shortly after midnight on Dec. 20. The victim was a 36-year-old man from Detroit, gunned down outside of 168 Crab, a restaurant and karaoke bar at 32415 John R Road, south of 14 Mile Road.

Madison Heights Police Det. Lt. Kevin Barrett said the shooting occurred in the parking lot. A family member of the victim transported the man to a nearby hospital, where he died.

“(The victim) appeared to be targeted,” Barrett said. “It appears (the suspect) waited in the parking lot for the victim to come outside. We do have witnesses that were able to provide us some information, and the officers were able to talk to the victim briefly.”

He noted there was no damage to the establishment, and no one else was injured. The vehicle driven by the suspect is described as a dark-colored SUV. The suspect is a man.

“The subject still remains unknown at this point,” Barrett said. “We are actively working leads.”

The other incident occurred on Nov. 25 — the day after Thanksgiving. It was around 6:30 p.m. when an unknown suspect drove a vehicle into a 50-year-old man in the parking lot of the T-Mobile cellphone store near 14 Mile Road and Interstate 75 in Madison Heights.

Police said the victim had been in some sort of dispute with the suspect just prior to the assault. The victim stepped out of his silver Saturn Ion in the parking lot, and then the suspect drove into him before fleeing the scene. The victim was transported to a local hospital, where he died.

The suspect vehicle is described as a black Jeep Gladiator with tinted windows.

“We don’t know the nature of it,” Barrett said, referring to the dispute itself and any preexisting relationship between the victim and suspect. “We just know there was some sort of altercation prior to the assault.”

The lieutenant said his department is diligently working each case.

“I believe these are both senseless acts of violence that didn’t need to occur. But I do believe the individuals involved were targets of the incidents, so I don’t think they were random acts. So, I think society should feel some safety in that. But we’re currently working on them,” Barrett said.

He said that anyone with information on either case should call the Madison Heights Police Department at (248) 585-2100 or Detective Sgt. Greg Hartunian at (248) 837-2737.