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Suspect in fatal shooting of 3-year-old boy on Southfield Freeway turns himself in to police

Michigan State Police say suspected shooter in custody

Police are seeking a 2014-2016 Mercedes silver four-door car in connection with a shooting that killed a boy Jan. 24, 2019 in Detroit. (WDIV)

DETROIT – The suspect in the fatal shooting of a 3-year-old boy on Southfield Freeway has turned himself in to police, according to authorities.

Michigan State Police officials said the suspected shooter turned himself in before 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

"This is quickly evolving and more information will be released as we can," MSP Metro Detroit tweeted. "Thank you to everyone that has called in tips, offered support and please continue to pray for the family."

The boy, Christian Miller, was strapped into a car seat when he was shot between the shoulder blades, according to police. He was taken to Sinai Grace Hospital and then rushed to Children's Hospital, where he died Friday morning, police said.

On Wednesday morning, police recovered a vehicle connected to the shooting.

Police released video Friday of the vehicle, which was seen near where the shooting happened in the southbound lanes of the Southfield Freeway near Joy Road around 7:30 p.m. Thursday, according to officials.

Michigan State Police troopers recovered the 2014-2016 Mercedes while executing a search warrant in Detroit, according to authorities.

Crime Stoppers was offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest in the shooting.

Watch: Video released by Michigan State Police showing suspected vehicle

 

READ3-year-old boy dies after being shot on Southfield Freeway on Detroit's west side

Boy shot on Southfield Freeway

Police said Christian was in his godmother's Dodge Journey on the way to see the "Sesame Street Live" show at the Fox Theatre. His godmother was not injured in the shooting, according to police.

His godmother rushed the boy to a gas station and witnesses said she was screaming for help.

Police have spoken with Christian's parents. His mother was home and his father was working at the time of the shooting, police said.

Police are not sure if the godmother was targeted, if the shooting was road rage-related or completely random.

  • Watch Jermont Terry's report below.

"We're going to start to backtrack everywhere that the godmother, the driver, came from," Michigan State Police Lt. Mike Shaw said. "We know where she left from and we know where she was heading. We're going to try to put the two cars together."

Christian's family asked for the shooter to turn himself in.

"Grieving and mourning does not have an expiration date," Christian's cousin, Stacey Lilly, said. "His mom will feel this the rest of her life, and whomever is responsible for taking her baby from her should turn themselves in."

Click on the videos below for more on this story.


About the Author
Derick Hutchinson headshot

Derick is the Lead Digital Editor for ClickOnDetroit and has been with Local 4 News since April 2013. Derick specializes in breaking news, crime and local sports.

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