Name: Detroit chief: After months at home, tensions spark wave of weekend violence
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Detroit chief: After months at home, tensions spark wave of weekend violence

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The Detroit News Detroit&nbsp;— "Tremendous tension" over being forced to stay at home&nbsp;in response to the COVID-19 virus emergency contributed to a bloody weekend in Detroit that ended with four people killed and 25 others shot, the city's&nbsp;police chief said Monday.From Friday to Sunday in Detroit, there were five double shootings, a triple shooting, and a "mass shooting" at a party in which five people were shot,&nbsp;police Chief James Craig said Monday during a press conference at Public Safety Headquarters.While Craig said&nbsp;the stay-at-home order imposed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has fueled "resentment" and "tension" that's partly&nbsp;responsible for a 7.5% increase in&nbsp;violent crimes in 2020&nbsp;over last year, he said the order has also&nbsp;helped curb property crime in Detroit, which is down 16%&nbsp;compared to the same period in 2019.Most of this weekend's&nbsp;shootings were sparked by&nbsp;arguments, including a dispute over a parking space, Craig said.&nbsp;"Of the fatal shooting incidents, two&nbsp;were arguments between (people who knew each other)," Craig said. "One was narcotic-related, and one additional we're not certain, but we believe it may have been a robbery."Among the victims were a&nbsp;37-year-old man, and his 9- and 10-year-old daughters, who in the 19700 block of Plainview on Detroit's west side.&nbsp;The man and his&nbsp;eldest&nbsp;child are in critical condition, while the younger daughter was released from the hospital, Craig said."Just a senseless violent act,"&nbsp;Craig said. "We have an understanding of what may have transpired, but we don't want to discuss it now. The last thing I want to do is undermine our (investigation)."There have been 134 homicides in Detroit this year as of Monday, up 32.7% from the 101 killings during the same period last year, according to DPD statistics. Nonfatal shootings are up&nbsp;55%, from 276&nbsp;last year to 427&nbsp;in 2020.The chief pointed out there's also been&nbsp;increased violence recently in large&nbsp;cities like , New York and Los Angeles, and said a lot of it is related to frustration over stay-at-home orders in response to the coronavirus."There's a trend," he said. "I began to really start thinking about what is going on. We predicted early on ... that because of COVID and certainly the stay-at-home (order), that there would be tremendous tension, tremendous stress, and what we’re seeing manifesting are these argument-based, senseless shootings&nbsp;among people who are acquainted and attending block parties."Violence cropped up at fo&nbsp;parties during the weekend&nbsp;— two each on the city's east and west sides&nbsp;— the chief said.&nbsp;"When you look at these multiple shooting incidents emanating out of house parties, it begs the question: Why did it need to happen?" Craig said.&nbsp;"It’s got to stop," he said. "That’s not the way we should settle disputes."Anyone with information about any of the incidents is asked to call Detroit police at (313) 596-5848 or Crime Stoppers at (800) SPEAK-UP.ghunter@detroitnews.com(313) 222-2134Twitter: @GeorgeHunter_DN

The Detroit News Detroit&nbsp;— "Tremendous tension" over being forced to stay at home&nbsp;in response to the COVID-19 virus emergency contributed to a bloody weekend in Detroit that ended with four people killed and 25 others shot, the city's&nbsp;police chief said Monday.From Friday to Sunday in Detroit, there were five double shootings, a triple shooting, and a "mass shooting" at a party in which five people were shot,&nbsp;police Chief James Craig said Monday during a press conference at Public Safety Headquarters.While Craig said&nbsp;the stay-at-home order imposed by Gov. Gretchen...

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George Hunter

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Detroit chief: After months at home, tensions spark wave of weekend violence

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