In the early hours of a cold Friday in Detroit, Michigan, the life of Willie Mack Long III, a 37-year-old man, was tragically cut short. On January 13, 2023, Long was found with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene, another victim of the gun violence that plagues the city. In the same incident that claimed Long's life, another man, 36-year-old Mario Lamar Stodghill, was also killed.
Remembered by his loved ones as goofy, full of life, and the life of the party,
Willie was a father and a husband. He worked as a CNC operator at Edward Machining and found joy in traveling, writing music, gambling, and spending precious time with his family and friends. His sudden and violent death sent shockwaves of grief through his community, leaving behind his wife, children, and a large extended family who cherished him.
The investigation into the double homicide quickly led to a breakthrough. In the days following the shooting, Detroit police arrested a suspect, Darnell McMillan. Authorities reported that McMillan had been involved in an altercation with Long just before the fatal shots were fired, suggesting the motive was a personal dispute. McMillan was subsequently charged with open murder in connection with Willie Mack Long III's death, bringing a measure of hope for justice to a grieving family and community.
