DETROIT – Three people were killed and 24 others were injured in six recent block party shootings in Detroit, and officials said they have a plan to do something about the trend.
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Detroit police Chief James White, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, and community leaders spoke Monday, July 8, 2024, about the block party problem.
What happened Sunday
Shots were fired around 2:25 a.m. Sunday at a block party in the area of Reno Street and Rossini Drive on Detroit’s east side.
White said officers were responding to a shooting at a different block party at the time. That party included more than 300 people.
When they learned about the party at Reno and Rossini, police went there and found multiple shooting victims and shell casings.
White said Monday that more than 100 shell casings have been found. Police recovered nine weapons, including one with a Glock Switch that made it fire as an automatic.
There were 63 ShotSpotter alerts from the shooting. Multiple houses were linked to the party.
Police believe more than 300 people were at this party, too. Multiple people fired shots, but as of Monday morning, no arrests have been made.
Very few details have been revealed about the investigation, as police and prosecutors prepare their case for possible charges.
White said there wasn’t a single significant issue during the Ford Fireworks, the NFL Draft, the Taylor Swift concert, or the Beyonce concert, so these parties are examples of people coming into Detroit to cause trouble.
Sunday block party victims
Here are details about the 21 people who were shot at the block party on Sunday:
- A 20-year-old woman was killed.
- A 21-year-old man was killed.
- A 17-year-old girl is in critical condition.
- A 16-year-old girl is in temporary serious condition.
- A 17-year-old girl is in temporary serious condition.
- A 17-year-old boy is in temporary serious condition.
- A 17-year-old boy is in temporary serious condition.
- An 18-year-old woman is in temporary serious condition.
- An 18-year-old woman is in temporary serious condition.
- A 19-year-old woman is in temporary serious condition.
- A 20-year-old woman is in temporary serious condition.
- A 20-year-old woman is in temporary serious condition.
- A 21-year-old man is in temporary serious condition.
- A 21-year-old woman is in temporary serious condition.
- A 21-year-old man is in temporary serious condition.
- A 26-year-old woman is in temporary serious condition.
- A 27-year-old woman is in temporary serious condition.
- A 20-year-old woman is stable.
- A 22-year-old man is stable.
- A 24-year-old woman is stable.
- A 21-year-old woman is injured with an unspecified condition.
The shooting victims include 11 people from Detroit, two each from Clinton Township, Eastpointe, and Warren, as well as one each from St. Clair Shores, Oak Park, Taylor, and Southfield.
Block party shooting trend
Duggan began Monday’s briefing by revealing that there were shootings at six different block parties in Detroit during the three-day span from July 4 through July 6.
He said three people were killed and 24 others were injured, in total.
Duggan said these parties typically involve hundreds of people showing up from all over, including from more than 50 miles away.
“This is not, ‘Your neighbor’s family’s party got large,’” Duggan said.
People bring illegal weapons and plan to party into the early hours of the morning, the mayor said.
“We have individuals who have decided they can organize popup parties in neighborhoods with no notice to the neighbors, instant direct messaging, and people pouring in from miles around,” Duggan said.
White said 911 dispatchers have received more than 500 calls about block parties since May.
Organizers are trying to keep illegal block parties secret by sending out notices that tell people to direct message them for more information.
Police target organizers, hosts
Duggan and White both said they are going to start cracking down much harder on people who organize these events, as well as the owners of the properties where they’re held.
Disturbing the peace and disorderly conduct are both violations of the city code and can lead to 90 days in jail and a $500 fine.
“It is a violation of city ordinance to engage in public disturbances, to engage in disorderly conduct,” Duggan said. “It is a 90-day jail sentence, and we are going to move forward that those who have organized these large, illegal parties -- we are going to arrest them and we are going to prosecute the host and the property owners for the public disturbances.”
In some cases, organizing or hosting these events could rise to the level of a state offense, Duggan said. Then it will be turned over to Wayne County.
Duggan said officials’ intention is not to chase party-goers.
How to throw a legal block party in Detroit
Duggan said there’s a way to host a block party legally in Detroit. He said officials want residents to enjoy the summer and be safe at the same time.
To host a legal block party, get a permit from the Detroit Police Department to shut down a street. You must have consent from at least 75% of residents on that block.
Parties can last until 10 p.m., and police will coordinate with organizers to make sure the situation is legal and under control.
“We want those kinds of joyful events to go on the rest of the summer without incident,” Duggan said. “This is not what we are talking about here.”
Neighborhood parties are legal and do not need a permit if they are confined to a house or backyard and the music and noise are not unreasonably disturbing the neighbors.
Click here to view the application for a legal block party.
When block parties become illegal
Block parties become illegal when party-goers loiter in public areas or interfere with traffic.
Music and noise violations can be issued at any time, but they are more strictly enforced after 10 p.m.
When cars are parked on sidewalks or lawns -- or parked illegally on the street -- because of a large party, that party is no longer in compliance.
People younger than 16 years old can’t be out after 10 p.m. without a guardian, and people younger than 18 can’t be out after 11 p.m. without a guardian.
When to call 911
Duggan and the police department are asking for the public to help them track down block parties that could get out of control.
Residents who see parties forming should call 911 as early as possible.
“You know the difference between your neighbor’s family getting a little loud and a lot of strangers showing up on your street, parking on the grass and sidewalk, blocking your driveway, underage kids out in front after curfew, loud noise in the neighborhood,” Duggan said. “You know the difference. Call 911. Call early. The police will be there.
“We’re not going to have neighbors becoming hostages in their own homes this summer, and that is what’s happening when somebody looks up and sees cars pouring into the neighborhood, blocking their street, not being able to sleep from the noise, and just waiting for when the gunfire’s going to erupt and wonder if they are at risk.”
What police are planning to do
The Detroit Police Department is putting together a Neighborhood Response Team to keep an eye out for illegal block parties.
White said starting every Thursday, at least one out-of-service car from each precinct will drive through neighborhoods to look for signs of these parties. This will begin immediately.
Police are focusing on disorderly conduct, illegal parking, and anything that disrupts the normal flow of an area. More serious offenses, such as carrying illegal weapons, will also be addressed.
A central team of 80 police officers will be called in to prevent threats from illegal block parties. They’ll locate them, issue warnings, and shut down certain events.
Block party calls have been elevated to “priority one″ status, meaning those calls will receive immediate response from officers.
Previously, calls about block parties could have been priority two or three, if nobody was hurt or in danger.
On weekends, dedicated police units will immediately receive 911 calls about block parties.
“We ask for the public’s help in shutting down the illegal block parties in the early stages before problems develop,” White said. “Anyone who sees an un-permitted block party, or one that is spilling over the front yard or illegally parking on the streets, sidewalks, or lawns, call 911 immediately. DPD will treat this as a priority one call. Please work with us to keep your neighborhoods safe.”
Detroit police plan to give hosts and property owners a warning when a party is illegal. They will ask them to shut down the party.
“Block parties used to be good, clean fun,” Worthy said. “But now, many of them are venues of death, fear, violence, and destruction. Should we have to regulate them? No. Must we? Absolutely, yes.”
Detroit city code
Here is the Detroit city code on disorderly conduct:
“It shall be unlawful for any person to make or assist in making any noise, disturbance, or improper diversion, or any rout or riot, by which the peace and good order of the neighborhood is disturbed.”
Here is the Detroit city code on disturbing the peace:
“No licensee under this article shall make, or assist in making, any noise, disturbance, or improper diversion or any rout or riot, by which the peace and good order of the neighborhood is disturbed.”
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Full briefing
You can watch Monday’s full briefing in the video below.
