DETROIT – Since Dec. 22, Detroit police homicide investigators have been working 24/7 trying to piece together why a man, armed with an assault rifle, would unload 30 rounds into a car with five teenagers in it.
Liggett standout student Paige Stalker was killed in the attack and three others were injured. A $100,000 reward has been offered for information in the shooting. Police sources told Local 4 the reward isn't generating much, but old-fashioned police work is.
Sources told Local 4 they have generated two strong leads. But why isn't $100,000 enough incentive to get people to talk? Retired Detroit police Lt. Tom Berry said you'd be surprised who ultimately gives tips and why.
"An ex-girlfriend, a spurned lover -- that's usually where we get tips from, or somebody that they're beefing with -- another dope person," Berry said. "I think they're going to take the time and make that call. I don't think that call will be made just for the $100,000. Usually it's a little bit of reward and a little bit of spite."
Police said they've been looking at three main theories about what happened that night and are moving away from the robbery angle.
"In my investigatory experience, and I have 34 years and I've been wrong and right, this isn't a robbery gone bad," Berry said. "They don't fire 30 rounds from an AK assault rifle. They may fire one or two and run away, but they didn't. They emptied that clip on those poor kids in that car and they drove away from the scene."
Police statistics show the area has real problems. Sources told Local 4 it's frequented by suburban kids looking to buy dope from a specific dealer who has recently taken up selling out of the area.