On a summer day in Detroit, 22-year-old Djuan Page, known to his friends as 'Neff,' was caught in the crossfire of a brutal gang war that would ultimately claim his life. The male victim was riding in a white Chrysler Sebring on July 14, 2014, near Grand River and Oakman when another vehicle pulled alongside them. Inside were members of the rival Seven Mile Bloods gang, who unleashed a hail of bullets, striking Page in the upper body and eye.
Another individual in the car with Page was also seriously wounded in the ambush.
The roots of this violent encounter ran deep, fueled by an ongoing feud between the Seven Mile Bloods and Page's gang, the Hustle Boys. The immediate catalyst for the shooting occurred earlier that day at a parole office. Billy Arnold, a leader of the Seven Mile Bloods who had recently been released from prison, spotted two members of the Hustle Boys, the Davis twins, whom he blamed for his incarceration. Enraged, Arnold summoned fellow SMB member Corey Bailey. Together, they followed the car carrying the Davis twins and their companions, including Djuan Page. It was then that Arnold and Bailey opened fire, turning a city street into a scene of deadly retribution.
The investigation into Djuan Page's murder led federal authorities to unravel the violent operations of the Seven Mile Bloods. Corey Bailey was arrested, and during his trial, evidence and testimony painted a grim picture of the gang's activities. Witnesses recounted how SMB members bragged about the shooting, even creating a rap video that referenced shooting someone in the 'e-y-e.' Bailey was ultimately convicted for his role in the murder of Djuan Page and received two life sentences.
Billy Arnold, the orchestrator of the attack, was also brought to justice. After a six-week trial, a federal jury convicted the 37-year-old gang leader on 22 counts, including two counts of murder in aid of racketeering for the death of Djuan Page and another individual, ten counts of attempted murder in aid of racketeering, and multiple firearm offenses. The conviction marked the culmination of a long and violent reign, and he was sentenced to a mandatory life in prison. In total, 20 members and associates of the Seven Mile Bloods were convicted as a result of the extensive investigation that was sparked, in part, by the brazen murder of Djuan Page.
