DETROIT – Detroit police Chief James White reiterated the plan to crack down on illegal block parties during a vigil Thursday for last weekend’s mass shooting victims.
“I’m not happy with this, I’m pissed off, and we should all be pissed off,” White said.
The shooting took place during an illegal block party on Sunday, July 7, 2024, on the city’s east side.
Two people were killed and 19 others were injured. Eight people remain hospitalized.
The prayer vigil on Thursday, July 11, 2024, was held near the shooting scene at Wish Egan Playfield.
Detroit City Council member Scott Benson led the vigil where several city leaders and activists spoke about the tragedy.
“What typically is a calm, safe neighborhood turned into a nightmare in a blink of an eye,” Benson said.
White reiterated the department’s new plan to crack down on these illegal block parties, saying they will become priority one calls that require a response time of 12 minutes or less.
He also said officers will proactively seek out these illegal gatherings.
“We are not going after grandma’s BBQ, we’re not going after a kids’ birthday celebration,” White said.
Instead, White said they are going after pop-up block parties that involve hundreds of people gathering late into the night with loud music and potential violence.
One of the community members attending Thursday’s vigil said her 18-year-old granddaughter was killed at a block party in Detroit last month.
She was shocked to learn it happened again last weekend.
“We haven’t stopped grieving, and now we’re grieving again,” Monica Murry said.
No charges have been filed in last weekend’s shooting. White said they are working tirelessly to identify suspects.