DeMarco Early, a 36-year-old Black male, tragically lost his life on January 27, 2020, in what has been described as a random act of violence in Detroit, Michigan. Recently married and with a child on the way, Early's life was cut short when he entered a Mobil gas station on the city's west side.
Just moments before Early walked into the gas station, an armed man, who was reportedly agitated and appeared to be suffering from a mental health crisis, had ordered everyone out of the
establishment. Unaware of the volatile situation unfolding inside, Early was shot multiple times by the distressed individual. The incident occurred in the morning, and tragically, Early's wife, Jalana, witnessed the crime scene tape from their home window and rushed to the scene only to discover that her husband was the victim.
Following the shooting of DeMarco Early, the suspect then turned the gun on himself, taking his own life at the scene. Due to the suspect's death, there were no arrests made or ongoing investigations into the murder. The authorities believe the motive was tied to the suspect's apparent mental breakdown. In the wake of this senseless tragedy, Early's family and friends remembered him as a kind and loving person who was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. The community held a vigil at the gas station to honor his memory and to raise awareness about mental health issues.
