DETROIT – A woman has died after police said she was intentionally hit by a vehicle on Detroit’s east side.
The incident happened at 8:30 p.m. Sunday (March 20) on Manning Street, not too far from 7 Mile Road and Hayes Street. The family has identified the victim as Tiffany Watson-Vance, 40.
Update: Driver accused of ‘viciously’ attacking, killing woman in Detroit is in custody, police say
Detroit police Chief James White said Watson-Vance was “viciously attacked.” Watson-Vance was struck by a vehicle in the front yard of a home in the area. Police said “the incident appears to be intentional” and was caught on video.
Police said there were two groups of people gathered at the location due to an ongoing argument. The dispute escalated into a fight.
“Our suspect took off at a high rate of speed, but did not leave the location,” White said. “She decided to circle the location, driving over the grass and, ultimately, striking the victim.”
Police said Watson-Vance was an onlooker and not necessarily directly involved in the fight.
“It appears that the victim was a bystander, but she was clearly in the path of the vehicle, and there was no attempt by this person of interest to avoid her,” White said. “There was no attempt. It was direct.”
Watson-Vance was pronounced dead Monday morning. White said there was a young child that was nearly struck by the suspect.
Victim’s daughter speaks out
Family said Tiffany Watson-Vance was a devoted mother of six.
“My mama was everything I had. My momma was the only thing and now she’s gone,” the victim’s daughter, Gatoria Bubrowski, said.
The suspect was driving toward Watson-Vance’s 6-year-old son when Watson-Vance jumped into action to get her son out of the way.
“Everybody loved her cooking, her smile, she woke up every morning happy,” Gatoria Bubrowski said.
Watson-Vance’s niece is 22-year-old Diamond Shelton, who died on Friday trying to save her cousin from the Detroit River.
Read: Police: Woman dies while rescuing friend who fell into Detroit River
Police speak with person of interest, still looking for vehicle
On Tuesday (March 22, 2022), police said the person of interest in the case turned herself in to police. She was questioned and released. Police are looking for additional persons of interest in the case.
The suspect is accused of putting children involved in the dispute into her car and then circling back around to strike and kill Watson-Vance.
“They said it was somebody’s momma that was driving. But the car was full of kids and she was the only older woman in the car,” Gatoria Bubrowski said.
The vehicle involved is believed to be a silver or gray Nissan Murano with Minnesota plate No. FBY 246. The driver of the vehicle fled the scene after the crash. Police have identified a person of interest and released a photo and video of them, those are available below.
If anyone has any information, they are asked to call the Detroit Police Department’s Homicide Unit at 313-596-2260 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-Up. All tips to Crime Stoppers are anonymous. Click here to submit a tip online.