On the evening of October 6, 2024, a dispute over a food delivery at a Detroit manufacturing plant tragically escalated, ending the life of 31-year-old Harmond Ulmer. A Black / African American male, Ulmer was an employee at Detroit Manufacturing Systems on the city's west side, where he had recently been promoted to team lead.
The fatal encounter began around 11:30 p.m. when Ulmer's girlfriend arrived with food for him. A security guard at the facility denied her entry, citing safety protocols. When Ulmer went to the gate to retrieve the food himself, an argument broke out between him and the security personnel. The situation quickly intensified, leading to an exchange of gunfire. Ulmer was struck by a single bullet to the chest. He attempted to drive away from the scene but crashed his vehicle into a light pole. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
In the wake of the shooting, authorities took a man into custody. Jonathan Leeavert Williams, a 31-year-old resident of Warren and a coworker of Ulmer, was arrested in connection with the incident. On October 10, 2024, Williams was formally charged with second-degree murder and felony firearm. He was arraigned and subsequently remanded to jail. A probable cause conference was scheduled for October 16, with a preliminary examination set for October 22. Detroit Manufacturing Systems issued a statement expressing their sorrow and confirming their full cooperation with the ongoing police investigation. They also made grief counseling services available to their employees.
