In the spring of 2017, a dispute in a Clinton Township, Michigan, apartment complex tragically cut short the life of a young man. Carlton Coleman, a 26-year-old Black/African American male, was fatally shot on the evening of Friday, March 31, 2017. The incident unfolded at the Oxford Square Apartments, situated near 15 Mile Road and Lipke Street.
Earlier that day, an argument had reportedly broken out between Coleman and another man.
The source of the conflict was said to be Coleman smoking marijuana in the presence of the other man's children. This initial disagreement escalated with shocking speed, culminating in both men exchanging gunfire. During the shootout, Coleman sustained a gunshot wound to his hip. Though he was transported to a nearby hospital, the injury proved to be fatal, and he ultimately bled to death.
The other individual involved in the altercation, a 24-year-old man whose identity was not publicly released by authorities, was also wounded, suffering a gunshot to his arm. In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, he was taken into custody by the Clinton Township Police. However, he was later released after asserting that he had acted in self-defense.
The investigation into Carlton Coleman's death was handed over to the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office for review to determine if criminal charges were warranted. Coleman's family publicly disputed the claim of self-defense, advocating for justice for their loved one, whom they described as a good person. In the weeks following the shooting, Crime Stoppers issued a plea for any information from the public that could shed more light on the circumstances of Coleman's death. Despite the ongoing investigation and the family's call for accountability, there have been no public announcements regarding any arrests or charges being filed in connection with the death of Carlton Coleman.
