DETROIT – Michigan State Police and the Detroit Police Department teamed up on Tuesday for “Operation Brison.”
The goal was to increase the police presence on Metro Detroit freeways and prevent shootings like the one on I-75 that killed 2-year-old Brison Christian and injured his 9-year-old sibling on June 17.
Brison was in his car seat and the family was driving home from basketball practice when a gunman opened fire on the family’s vehicle. Both children were transported to a hospital where Brison was pronounced dead. The 9-year-old is expected to be OK.
Read: Family speaks out after 2-year-old killed, 9-year-old injured in shooting on I-75 in Detroit
Two men face murder charges in connection with Brison’s death. Darius Lanier, 19, and Eugene Hubbard, 21, were both charged with first-degree murder.
They also face the following charges:
- Three counts of assault with intent to murder
- One count of discharge from a vehicle causing death
- One count of discharge from a vehicle causing injury
- Two counts of discharge from a vehicle
- Eight counts of felony firearm
Police said it’s alleged that the defendants mistakenly identified the family’s black truck based on its color and make and they were not the intended targets. The incident is still under investigation.
‘”The Christian family were completely innocent victims. This was a family returning from a child sports activity that were mistaken for others because of their truck. Two year old Brison Is dead and his nine year old brother barely escaped serious injury,” said Prosecutor Worthy.” A child is dead because adults decided that they were judge, jury, and executioner. They will get a fair trial, but Brison doesn’t get to have a life.”
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy