On a tragic evening in Detroit, what began as an ordinary day ended in heartbreak for the family of Alex Stewart. On Sunday, April 9, 2017, the 24-year-old man and his 28-year-old brother, Louis Phillips, were fatally shot on the city's west side. The incident occurred around 6:45 p.m. in the 20000 block of Schaefer Highway. A witness reported hearing gunshots and then seeing two men lying on the ground.
The mother of the two men, Lada Watts, rushed to the scene after receiving a call
about the shooting. She arrived to the devastating sight of one of her sons lying on the ground, where he would remain for seven hours. Watts expressed immense grief and disbelief at losing two children in one day. She described her sons as talented individuals with dreams for the future; Louis had an interest in acting, while Alex had a passion for drawing. The family was left to plan two funerals, and a GoFundMe page was set up to assist with the expenses.
In the days following the shooting, police announced that an arrest had been made in connection with the double homicide. The suspect was taken into custody on the evening of Wednesday, April 12, 2017, in the 2900 block of Liddesdale Street in Southwest Detroit. The victim's mother, while relieved that a suspect was in custody, stated that there was another shooter still at large.
Later, it was reported that a mistrial was declared in the murder case against a suspect identified as Aubrey Giles Stanley Jr. The trial, which had just begun, was halted after the defense attorney fell asleep during the court proceedings. For the grieving mother, this development meant reliving the tragedy all over again as she continued to seek justice for her two sons.
