In the early morning hours of June 6, 2016, the life of 25-year-old De-Angelo Smith Owens was violently cut short in a triple homicide on Detroit's west side. The young father of four, with another child on the way, was found shot to death in the driveway of a home on Brace Street. Inside the residence, which police described as a known drug house that had been the subject of recent raids, two other victims were discovered. They were later identified as 15-year-old Jaden Dorris and 22-year-old Errick Durham.
Investigators believe the three were targeted, with the assailant or assailants breaking into the house through a basement window. It appears that Owens and Dorris were shot while they were sleeping. The violent nature of the act sent shockwaves through the community, drawing a large and emotional crowd to the scene as news of the killings spread. Family members, overwhelmed with grief and frustration, gathered, seeking answers and justice for their loved ones.
While authorities pointed to the house's connection with narcotics, Owens's mother, Angela Owens-Brown, vehemently denied that her son's death was related to drugs or gang activity. She expressed a belief that her son was attempting to mediate a neighborhood dispute when he was caught in the deadly crossfire. The family's pain was compounded by the senseless loss of a young man they described as a loving father.
In the years that have passed since the tragic event, the case has grown cold. Despite the initial investigation and a reward offered by Crime Stoppers of Michigan for information leading to an arrest, no suspects have been publicly identified, and no arrests have been made in connection with the murders of De-Angelo Smith Owens, Jaden Dorris, and Errick Durham. The families of the victims continue to await a resolution, hoping that one day those responsible for this brutal act will be brought to justice.
