DeAngelo Turner, a 25-year-old Black male, was fatally shot in a brazen daylight attack on June 16, 2015, in Detroit, Michigan. The incident unfolded at a BP gas station situated on Grand River Avenue, where Turner was a customer. The sudden and public nature of the violence sent shockwaves through the community, as the shooting occurred in the presence of several bystanders, including children who were in the vicinity at the time.
The event was captured on the gas station's surveillance footage, providing investigators with crucial evidence from the onset of their inquiry.
The investigation, led by the Detroit Police Department's Homicide Division, quickly identified a primary suspect in the killing: 35-year-old Timothy Wright. According to law enforcement, Wright entered the gas station with the clear and premeditated intention of killing Turner. Detective Gary Przybyla of the Detroit Police described Wright's actions as deliberate, stating that his main objective was to locate and murder Turner. Following the shooting, Wright fled the scene and became a fugitive from the law, prompting a widespread manhunt. Authorities publicly labeled Wright as armed and dangerous, urging caution and assistance from the community in locating him.
In the wake of DeAngelo Turner's murder, his family was left to grapple with the profound and sudden loss. His mother, Valerie Wilks, alongside other family members, made emotional public appeals for any information that could lead to the apprehension of Timothy Wright. They spoke of the devastating impact of Turner's death, particularly on his young son, who was left to navigate a future without his father. Crime Stoppers of Michigan joined the effort to bring the suspect to justice, offering a cash reward for tips that would result in Wright's arrest. For several months, despite the circulation of surveillance images and the reward offer, Wright managed to evade capture, prolonging the anguish for Turner's grieving family and leaving a community on edge.
