In a quiet wooded area in Comstock Park, Michigan, the body of 28-year-old Mark Allen Blakley III was discovered by a resident on June 15, 2025. An autopsy would later confirm that Blakley had died from multiple gunshot wounds. The investigation into his death quickly focused on a shots-fired call that police had responded to earlier that same day in a nearby area.
This led them to 18-year-old Santiago Barajas, who was initially arrested on a concealed weapons charge at that scene.
As detectives delved deeper, they connected Barajas to Blakley's death, alleging that the fatal encounter stemmed from a Facebook Marketplace transaction that had gone awry. According to court documents, Barajas had arranged to sell a watch to Blakley. Barajas told investigators that during the meeting, Blakley grabbed the watch from his hand and fled. In response, Barajas allegedly pulled out a concealed handgun and fired twice in Blakley's direction as he ran, striking him in the back and neck.
Following the investigation that linked the two incidents, Santiago Barajas was charged with manslaughter and felony firearm in connection with the death of Mark Allen Blakley III. He was subsequently arraigned on these charges and held on a $200,000 bond. If convicted of the manslaughter charge, he could face up to 15 years in prison, with an additional two years for the felony weapons charge.
