DETROIT – He was a fixture near 8 Mile and the Southfield Freeway. People were used to seeing 65-year-old Clayton Willis in his wheelchair panhandling.
The double amputee was shot in the back of the head last summer but survived.
He was in his usual spot on Wednesday (Jan. 10) when police said he argued with a man driving a black Dodge Charger.
It’s unclear which of them was armed, but they fought over possession of a gun and ended up shooting and killing each other.
A tourist from the United Kingdom happened to be driving by when he heard the shots.
“I heard about three or four gunshots and saw the guy with no legs fall to the ground,” said Ben Stevens.
He pulled over to see if he could help and realized Willis was dead on the ground and the man in the Charger, who was described as mid-30s, was dying.
Stevens called 911.
He told Local 4 it appeared the man behind the wheel of the car had been hit in the chest and neck.
Detroit police are trying to piece together what started the fight.
“Homicide will be working to determine what the motive was and if they’re known to each other,” said Deputy Chief Kari Sloan.
Ortagus Jackson-El, who drives by Willis daily, said he couldn’t imagine the double amputee started anything.
“He was always grateful when I handed him a couple of dollars, even when I didn’t have anything to give, he was always friendly,” said Jackson-El.