Avonte Herring, a 13-year-old Black/African American male, was fatally shot on the afternoon of November 25, 2025, in Highland Park, Michigan, near the Dollar General store at Woodward Avenue and Manchester Parkway. He was struck around 3:45 p.m. during a burst of gunfire that also sent stray rounds into nearby businesses and passing vehicles, turning an ordinary weekday afternoon into a chaotic and tragic scene.
In the days that followed, family members were described as devastated and unable to sleep after learning he had been killed. His mother was too shaken to appear on camera but expressed through the reporter that the family is heartbroken and focused on hoping and praying that whoever is responsible will be brought to justice. Neighbors spoke about seeing him regularly in the area and remembered him as a familiar, positive presence. One neighbor, Liletha Poe, said she would see him every morning and that his absence would leave a painful gap in her daily routine. She recalled how he looked out for younger children in the neighborhood, sometimes giving her son small amounts of money and letting her know if the kids were not behaving as they should, a sign that he took on a protective, big-brother role in the community.
Investigators have not publicly identified a motive for the shooting, and authorities have emphasized that details about what led up to the gunfire are still being pieced together. Highland Park Police Chief James McMahon has said that, based on what they know so far, they believe the shooter is also a very young teenager. He issued a public warning and plea to parents to pay closer attention to what their children are doing and who they spend time with, stating that kids involved in this kind of violence could end up either in prison or dead if adults do not intervene. The case has been turned over to the Michigan State Police for investigation, and as of the most recent reporting there have been no announced arrests and no suspect publicly named. Authorities have urged anyone with information to contact Highland Park police, the state tip line at 855-MICH-TIP, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP, stressing that callers can remain anonymous as they work to identify and apprehend the person responsible for Avonte’s killing.
