Bird poop helps investigators find man accused of shooting Macomb County businessman Eddie Jawad
Suspect's criminal history laid bare after alleged assassination attempt of Macomb County businessman
Jason Martin of Eastpointe was in court for an arraignment Wednesday.
MACOMB TOWNSHIP, Mich. (FOX 2) - Despite swapping a license plate on his getaway vehicle, authorities still tracked down a suspect accused of shooting a Macomb County businessman, thanks to bird poop and brake dust.
Jasan Martin
Jasan Martin, 32, is accused of shooting Eddie Jawad at his Macomb Township home last week. Martin then fled in a Ford Escape affixed with a stolen license plate.
The backstory:
According to Macomb County Sheriff Antony Wickersham, the SUV was borrowed from a family member and had a license plate that was stolen off a vehicle in Detroit. Witnesses told investigators that they saw the vehicle parked on a street near Jawad's 24 Mile home on Oct. 14, when the businessman was shot in the leg.
Authorities used traffic cameras to track the vehicle to Detroit, where it was spotted with a legal license plate. Since the plate was swapped, investigators had to use other distinguishing marks to determine that it was the suspect vehicle. Wickersham said this included bird poop, brake dust on the wheel well, and smudges on the Escape that matched the Escape that Martin allegedly used to flee.
Macomb Twp mansion shooting: New video shows gunman opening fire on businessman
The gunman runs across Jawad’s driveway, continuing to fire shots, more than a dozen, before he runs off.
Wickersham said the proper license plate was registered at a home in Eastpointe, and the registered owner matched the description of the person accused of shooting Jawad.
The vehicle had specific and consistent markings on them on it and locations that were not common- identify brake dust on the wheel well, smudges that were on the vehicle, and bird poop that was on the vehicle."
"This is an individual that’s on parole out of Ohio transferred here to Michigan and as such, it's a hab-four, which is a habitual fourth which is up to a life offense," said Macomb County Prosecutor Pete Lucido.
"In addition he’s on parole for armed robbery, kidnapping, and assault with a dangerous weapon and probably will have a parole hold if not already in place. It will be in place by the time of the arraignment today."
Within days of the shooting, investigators executed 23 search warrants.
On Friday, police took the SUV's owner into custody and questioned them. They learned that the owner loaned the vehicle to Martin, who then allegedly drove to Macomb Township, hid in Jawad's yard for about 45 minutes, and then shot the businessman.
Martin was arrested Sunday during a raid at a Warren home.
A team consisting of members of the Sheriff's Office Swat team, Warren Police Department Drone Team FBI Violent Crimes and Gangs Task Force, and MCSO Set broke down the door of a home on Rivard Avenue and came out with Martin in custody.
"This was a total effort of law enforcement at every level to get this individual in custody," Wickersham said.
Wickersham said a motive for the shooting is still unknown.
Dig deeper:
Martin is charged with assault with intent to commit murder, possession of a weapon by a prohibited person, carrying a weapon with unlawful intent, and three counts of felony firearm.
He is charged as a fourth-time habitual offender, Macomb County Prosecutor Pete Lucido said.
According to Lucido, Martin is currently on parole out of Ohio for armed robbery, kidnapping, and assault with a dangerous weapon.
The Source: Previous FOX 2 reporting and a press conference with the Macomb County prosecutor and sheriff were used in this story.