Shannon Mullen, a 25-year-old Black man from Detroit, was a protector and a devoted father to his 2-year-old son. Known to some as "S Dot," he was described by his mother, Edna Washington, as her "pride and joy." His sister, Angel, remembered him as someone who did everything he could to care for his family.
On the night of November 10, 2012, Shannon was sitting in his cousin's car outside a Coney Island restaurant in the 11000 block of Morang Drive on the city's east side. An argument broke out nearby between his cousin and another person. The dispute escalated to gunfire, and a stray bullet struck Shannon. He was fatally wounded in the senseless act of violence.
A few months later, his grieving family pleaded with the public for help. His mother, a paramedic, spoke of the profound pain of losing her son to the kind of violence she had witnessed in her line of work. "It was the worst day of my life. Words can't express what I went through that day," she said. "I had to tag individuals toes and I had to pull bullets out of young men, but never in a million years did I think that my son, who I love so dearly, would end up at a place where I call my employment."
As of January 2013, no arrests had been made in Shannon Mullen's death. His case remains unsolved. Crime Stoppers of Michigan is offering a reward of $2,500 for any information that leads to an arrest.