DETROIT – Chaos erupted early Monday morning on Murray Hill near Trojan, leaving a west-side Detroit neighborhood rattled, a trooper injured, and a family devastated after a man was killed.
The shootout unfolded around 4:30 a.m. near the Lodge and 8 Mile, on May 5, 2025. 23-year-old Martez Hunter, identified by family, was fatally shot by Michigan State Police (MSP) officers during an undercover operation.
“All I heard was pop pop pop pop pop,” a neighbor recalled, describing the sound of gunfire that she said forced her to duck for cover, injuring her shoulder.
According to Hunter’s cousin, Dameka Gray, the situation escalated rapidly following a phone call from a distressed family member.
“I just ran out the house and ran to her and I heard the sirens when they were coming down here -- His brother had to see him lying on the ground,” Gray said.
For Hunter’s brother, Tony Hunter, the tragedy unfolded with a final, heartbreaking shout-out to him.
“My little brother called my name,” he said. “He called for me to come out. As soon as I started running, all I hear is gunshots.”
Michigan State Police say Hunter, who was inside a silver Chevy Cobalt with tinted windows, at some point, exited the vehicle and fired three rounds at officers.
“We got lucky today that our officer had his vest on and that another Trooper was with him and was able to return fire,” said Lt. Rene Gonzalez of the Michigan State Police.
One trooper, a seven-year veteran of MSP, was shot in the leg and back and is now recovering at Detroit Receiving Hospital and is expected to be OK. Hunter, however, was pronounced dead at the scene.
His family describes Hunter as an aspiring rapper who grew up in the neighborhood, had a license to carry a firearm, and would never intentionally hurt anyone.
“He was a sweetheart. He was always smiling,” Gray said. “Why you got police and unmarked cars pulling up on people? Now they are trying to paint my baby to be a bad guy. That sh-t hurt,” Gray said.
The rounds of gunfire also had neighbors diving for cover, as bullets struck nearby homes. One neighbor showed Local 4 where a bullet entered her kitchen. She said at first she thought someone was shooting at her house. Her next-door neighbor’s home was also hit.
“I jumped out of bed trying to get cover and the shooting continued and I laid on the floor until it was over,” the neighbor said. “And my neighbor could’ve been hurt. She’s got a 3-year-old grandbaby over there.”
Despite the intense gunfire exchange, no one else was injured, thankfully, police said.
“We do offer our condolences to the family. We know this is a tragedy. Any loss of life is terrible,” said Lt. Gonzalez.
“I feel bad for the family. I feel bad for the department,” said Reginald Washington, another neighbor. “Why does it always have to come to violence or somebody losing their life?”
Hunter’s family is now calling for answers from police.
“We’re gonna get justice… Believe it,” said Tony Hunter. “It’s not over with. This isn’t over with,” another family member said.
MSP said per protocol, Detroit’s Homicide Task Force is overseeing the investigation into the officer-involved shooting.
Related: ‘Justice for my brother’: Family of Detroit man killed in shootout involving state police speaks out
