DETROIT – Two men are facing federal charges after allegedly stealing two cars at gunpoint and robbing the drivers.
Deon Carter and Jaylen White are facing carjacking charges, as well as brandishing a firearm during a crime and aiding and abetting.
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First reported carjacking
On April 10, 2025, at around 7:30 a.m., a man was sitting in his parked car in Detroit waiting to start his shift at work when he was approached by two men, later identified as Carter and White, pointing guns at him. One of the armed gunmen told him to “get out of the car, I’m doing this for my mom.”
The man got out of the car. One of the gunmen allegedly demanded everything from his pockets, so he gave the gunmen his phone, green card, ID and $17.
The victim described the first suspect as a man about 5′6″ wearing all black. He described the second suspect as a man about 5′10″ tall. He told police both were wearing ski masks during the carjacking.
The second suspect went into the driver’s seat of the car and the first suspect went into the passenger seat and drove away.
Suspects follow, shoot at driver
At around 8:30 a.m. the same day, a person went to the Detroit Police Department 10th precinct to report that someone in a red SUV fired two shots while following him. The victim said he left his house, which was about three miles from where the first car was originally stolen, when he saw the SUV sitting about two blocks away.
When the victim drove off in his car, he said he was followed by the red SUV. At one point, he told police he heard two gunshots, leading the victim to drive directly to the police department. He arrived with a flat tire but was unsure if it was from the shooting or something else.
Second carjacking
A man was inside his parked car after he dropped off this children at a Detroit school during the early morning hours of April 10, 2025.
A red SUV drove past him, turned around and parked next to his car. A gunman, later identified as Carter, opened the victim’s driver’s side door and told him, “don’t do nothing stupid and get back in the car.”
Carter then allegedly went into the car and drive away with the victim inside.
Carter allegedly drove the stolen car to a gas station near Dexter Avenue and Davison Street. The victim said he was forced into the convenience store by the gunman and was demanded to give the suspect some money. The victim was not able to get money from an ATM and suggested they go to a bank.
While at the convenience store, the victim noticed Carter was talking to another person, who was later identified as White.
Attempted bank robbery, first arrest
Carter returned to the car with the victim back in the back seat and drove to the Chase Bank off Dexter Avenue in Detroit.
The gunman reportedly told the victim, “I know this is a bank, I don’t want to shoot you so don’t make a scene.”
The victim went to the teller window but wasn’t able to get money because he did not have an account. He then wrote on a slip “he has a gun,” and gave it to the bank teller.
A security guard approached the victim and the victim whispered “he had a gun” to get the security guard’s attention.
When the security guard approached Carter, a struggle ensued.
Carter then pulled a pistol from his pocket. The security guard wrestled the gun from Carter and directed bank employee to call 911. Other items fell from Carter’s pockets during the struggle: a Visa credit card, and an ID card belonging to the first victim.
Carter eventually ran away from the security guard, kicked the front door open and ran away from the bank. Officers took Carter into custody as he was running towards the second stolen car.
During a search, police found a loaded magazine in Carter’s front pocket. Officers believe it belonged to the handgun that fell from Carter’s pocket during the struggle with the security guard.
The gun that was recovered by the security guard was handed to police. Investigators said the serial number on the gun appeared defaced. But after further analysis, law enforcement found that a second serial number on the gun was associated with a gun that was stolen in March 2025.
Second arrest
On April 10 at around 9 a.m., law enforcement said they found the first reported stolen car in the 1500 block of Dexter Avenue, which is one block away from the Chase Bank were Carter was arrested.
Officers tried to pull over White, but he allegedly immediately drove away from police.
He eventually lost control and crashed into a truck near Puritan Avenue and Belden Street in Detroit.
White got out of the driver’s door and tried to run away. He was then arrested. Police believe he is the suspect in the first reported stolen car based on what the victim described the suspect.
Why suspects face federal charges
According to court documents, investigators said the cars that were stolen were manufactured in Mexico -- outside the state of Michigan. Meaning, the car was “transported in interstate commerce.”
Investigators said Carter and White allegedly took cars that were transported, shipped or received in interstate commerce from a person or presence of another by force and violence or by intimidation with intent to cause death or great bodily harm.
