In the early hours of a summer morning in Detroit, the life of 28-year-old Devon Lawrence Cartwright was tragically cut short. On July 16, 2021, on Washburn Street, a burst of gunfire shattered the pre-dawn quiet, leaving a scene of violence that would claim two lives and injure a third. Cartwright, a male resident of Detroit, was found deceased outside a residence, while another man, 31-year-old Michael C. Edwards, Jr.
of Southfield, was discovered inside the home, also having succumbed to fatal gunshot wounds. A third victim, a 26-year-old man, was found inside with multiple gunshot wounds but survived the attack.
The investigation into the deadly shooting quickly pointed to a suspect. Five days after the incident, on July 21, 2021, police arrested 22-year-old Gerrod Moses Lark of Detroit. The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office subsequently brought a host of serious charges against him. Lark was formally charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Devon Cartwright and Michael Edwards, Jr. In connection with the survivor, he faced two counts of assault with intent to murder. Further escalating the gravity of his alleged crimes, he was also charged with two counts of felony murder and six counts of felony firearm.
The legal proceedings against Gerrod Moses Lark commenced with his arraignment in 36th District Court on July 24, 2021. Following this, a probable cause conference was scheduled for early August, with a preliminary examination set for August 9, 2021. The case against him painted a grim picture of the events that transpired on Washburn Street, alleging that Lark entered the residence and opened fire, leading to the deadly outcome. While the initial investigation suggested a possible motive of a drug-related robbery, the full story of what prompted the violent encounter would be left to unfold within the confines of the justice system.
