In the late hours of a December night in Madison Heights, Michigan, the life of David Willis II, a 37-year-old man, was brought to a violent and tragic end. Just after midnight on December 19, 2022, as Willis was leaving a local restaurant, an SUV approached him in the parking lot. Following a verbal exchange, a series of gunshots shattered the night's quiet.
Willis was struck multiple times by gunfire originating from the vehicle, which then fled the scene.
Despite his grave injuries, Willis fought for his life. He managed to get into a vehicle and was rushed to a nearby hospital by a family member. During the frantic journey, he made a heart-wrenching phone call to his daughter, telling her and her three younger siblings that he loved them. He also managed to call his grandmother to let her know something terrible had happened. At the hospital, he was initially able to communicate with doctors, even attempting to get up from his bed. However, after more than 24 hours of struggle, David Willis II succumbed to his injuries on December 20, 2022.
For nearly two and a half years, the case remained a focal point for investigators. The Madison Heights Police Department, in a collaborative effort with the FBI's Gang and Violent Crimes Task Force, diligently pursued leads to bring the person responsible to justice. Their persistent investigation eventually led them to identify a suspect.
In a significant development on May 22, 2025, the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office announced that charges had been filed against Nino Denzel-Wesley Red, a 32-year-old resident of Detroit. Red was charged with first-degree murder, felony firearm, and possession of a firearm by a felon. The charges are accusations, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty. First-degree murder carries a potential sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
