An argument that began in a Redford Township home culminated in the tragic deaths of two women, including 18-year-old Lysa Blake. The incident, which unfolded on December 13, 2019, also claimed the life of 49-year-old Dania Phillips. The teenage female was visiting the home on Mercedes Street where Phillips resided. A violent altercation erupted between Phillips and a man described as a close family friend who had been a part of their lives for over three decades and was considered a stepfather figure.
From the basement, Lysa and Phillips' 16-year-old daughter heard the commotion and ran upstairs. In an act of bravery, Lysa attempted to intervene and de-escalate the volatile situation. It was then that the man fatally shot her. Her father later lamented that his daughter 'died a hero.' Following the shooting of Lysa, Phillips ran out of the house, where the gunman pursued her and shot her as well. The tragic events were witnessed by Phillips' teenage daughter and 4-year-old grandson, who were also in the home at the time.
The suspect fled the scene, prompting a manhunt. The following day, Detroit police officers tracked him to a neighborhood bar on the city's east side. When confronted by officers who were there with a search warrant, the man opened fire on them. The police returned fire, and the suspect was killed in the exchange. His name has not been publicly released. No police officers were injured in the shootout. Family members of both victims were left devastated, struggling to comprehend how a man they considered family could be responsible for such a violent act.
