3 dead after Inkster shootings, bill would ban vaccine passports, convicted murderer freed after 48 years

WEDNESDAY NEWS HIT - Police responded to three shooting scenes in Inkster between Monday and Tuesday, with two of the shootings leaving people dead. Now, police are working to determine if the shootings are connected.

Just before 8 p.m. Monday, a group of people were ambushed while playing basketball in the 27900 block of Rosewood Street. Police said shooters were running between houses firing at the group. Four people were hit and two died.

On Tuesday morning, police were called to a home in the 3800 block of Inkster Road because a woman was shot around 4 a.m. She is expected to survive. About 90 minutes later, police were called back to that home because the woman's boyfriend, Burnes King, was shot and killed.

Three dead in three shootings, two scenes in Inkster

Police in Inkster investigate if three shootings over 12 hours at two different locations are linked after three people were killed.

"It appears the first shooting wasn't the intended victim. They came back around to unfortunately finish what they started," said Lt. Michael Shaw, with Michigan State Police.

Police said they hope the rash of violence in under 12 hours isn't an indication of how the summer will be.

"I’m hoping this isn’t going to be an indicator of what summer's gonna look like for us. We do know that we've seen a lot of gun violence, not only here in Inkster, not only here in Detroit, but everywhere across the county," Shaw said.

Man charged after Milan Beach shooting

Authorities said a man accused of shooting an Ohio man at Milan Beach on Saturday led deputies on a long chase before being arrested.

Shaun Johnathan Prato, 24, is charged with assault with intent to murder, carrying a concealed weapon, felony firearm, and fourth-degree fleeing and eluding.

Prato, of Warren, is accused of shooting the 21-year-old victim multiple times during an argument. The victim is in critical condition.

Shaun Johnathan Prato

Man convicted of murder almost 50 years ago freed

Ray Gray, who was convicted of murder 48 years ago, is a free man.

Gray entered a no contest plea to second-degree murder charges for the 1973 death of a man in a Detroit apartment. Gray was 21 when he was sentenced to life in prison and is now 68, one of Michigan's longest-service inmates in custody.

Gray was convicted in 1974 in a bench trial and ordered to life in prison. A no contest plea does not admit guilt but does not contest the charge of the crime, which Gray has said he didn't commit.

Another man later admitted to the crime but Gray remained in prison.

An agreement between the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office and Gray's attorney led to his release.

Former police officer calls for convicted killer in Michigan to be set free

Raymond Gray has spent nearly 50 years in prison for murder, making him one of Michigan's longest-service inmates. But freedom could possibly be in his future, and not just because of the pandemic.

Lawmakers push to ban mandating COVID-19 vaccines for minors, vaccine passports

Republican lawmakers in Michigan advanced a bill that would make it illegal to mandate minors get the COVID-19 vaccine. They also pushed to ban vaccine passports.

A mandate and vaccine passports are not being considered, but the lawmakers said they wanted to be proactive.

Democrats said the bill was needless and noted that if the COVID-19 vaccine were added to the list of immunizations children need to attend school, the state allows for exemptions.

Both bills would need to clear the other chamber before heading to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

The Vaccine Machine is taking shots to students at school

Bloom Pediatrics has been visiting and vaccinating at local schools in Birmingham, Royal Oak, Clawson, Ferndale, Troy and Southfield this week.

What else we're watching

Memorial Day is this weekend. Find a parade near you.
A driver said a woman threw glass bottles and a makeup brush at him before shooting at his vehicle on I-94 in Detroit.
Eddie Munster actor Butch Patrick is visiting St. Clair Shores this weekend.
Clinton Township police are adding social workers for some 911 calls.
Detroit public schools are offering a recurring bonus for special education teachers.

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14-year-old girl hands newborn baby to strangers at NJ restaurant

Live-streamed video captured the aftermath when a teenage girl walked into a restaurant and left a newborn baby with strangers before running off.

On May 19, Alease Scott and her boyfriend, Walter Cocca, were eating inside of the El Patron restaurant in Jersey City’s south district when an unknown teenage girl carrying what appeared to be a newborn baby walked into the establishment and asked the employees for help.

Scott intervened after it seemed no one would be able to assist her and the teenage girl handed the baby to Scott before running out of the restaurant.