In the early morning hours of June 6, 2016, on Brace Street on Detroit's west side, 25-year-old De-Angelo Smith Owens, a Black male, was shot and killed in what police described as a targeted attack. Two other young men, 15-year-old Jaden Dorris and 22-year-old Errick Durham, also lost their lives in the violent incident.
Neighbors reported hearing several gunshots around 5 a.m., and when police arrived at the residence, they discovered a grim scene. Owens was found shot to death in the driveway of the home he was renting. Inside, they found the bodies of Dorris and Durham. Investigators determined that the suspect or suspects had gained entry to the house by breaking in through a basement window. The victims appeared to have been ambushed, with Owens and Dorris reportedly shot while they were sleeping.
In the aftermath of the triple homicide, a chaotic and emotional scene unfolded on the residential street as family and friends of the victims gathered, seeking answers and grappling with their loss. Owens' mother stated her belief that her son was attempting to mediate a neighborhood dispute and was not involved in gang or drug activity. However, police confirmed that the house had been the subject of two recent drug raids in the months leading up to the shooting, with one raid resulting in an arrest and the discovery of drug paraphernalia.
Despite the targeted nature of the killings and the history of police activity at the house, the investigation into the murders of De-Angelo Smith Owens, Jaden Dorris, and Errick Durham has grown cold. To date, no suspects have been publicly identified, and no arrests have been made in connection with the case, leaving the families of the three victims still searching for justice.
