DETROIT – A man charged in connection to a mass shooting that killed two people and injured 19 others in Detroit appeared in court on Tuesday and is scheduled to return to court on Wednesday.
Demitrus Tiwan Shaw, 19, was charged in the July 7, 2024, shooting at an illegal street party in Detroit.
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The mass shooting happened near the intersection of Reno Street and Rossini Drive on the city’s east side.
The mass shooting -- possibly the worst in Michigan history -- also resulted in an internal investigation into the police response to the incident.
According to authorities, police executed 11 search warrants on Tuesday, Jan. 7, that resulted in the recovery of 21 guns, an estimated half million dollars worth of drugs and 10 arrests.
Among the arrests was Shaw, who has been charged with murder and assault with intent to murder, assault with intent to do great bodily harm, discharge of a firearm from a vehicle causing injury, carrying a concealed weapon, carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent and four counts of felony firearm.
Shaw’s preliminary examination began on Tuesday, April 8. This hearing determines if there is enough evidence for his case to move to trial.
What happened on first day of preliminary examination
Witnesses testified what they experienced leading up to the shooting on July 7, 2024. Security footage was displayed in court, and the witnesses pointed out where they were when the shooting happened. Some of the witnesses on Monday were injured in the shooting.
The judge ordered the media not to show the faces of the witnesses who testified as the investigation is still ongoing.
Some witnesses said the incident started when two girls began fighting, which drew a crowd to watch the fight. Soon after, shots rang out, causing chaos and people running away from the scene.
One witness testified he was shot in the leg and watched his cousin die next to him. Another witness said she was grazed by a bullet on her head.
Shaw is scheduled to return to court on Wednesday, April 9, as the preliminary examination continues.
What happened on second day of hearing
Phone records were revealed in court that Shaw’s phone was pinged in the area of the shooting on July 7, 2024.
During the interrogation in January 2025, Shaw told police he may have fired one or two shots. Shaw claimed there were multiple other people there with guns, as well.
The defense argued police could not identify the shooters captured in videos taken at the scene. Shaw’s attorneys also claimed police threatened and lied to the 19-year-old during the 7-hour interrogation to get him to give police information.
