Posted on 11/07/2013 10:41:41 AM PST by equaviator
A community is looking for answers after 19-year-old Renisha McBride was shot in the head after seeking the help of residents in what media reports are describing as a predominantly white Detroit suburb following a car crash in the early morning of Nov. 4.
While Dearborn Heights authorities have refused to release details of the investigation, they have "identified the person who fired the shot and killed the woman."
According to her family, McBride was likely forced to go door-to-door because her cell phone had died.
"She probably wanted to ask him to make a call for her or if she could use the phone," said McBride's maternal aunt, Bernita Spinks told WJBK News.
Yet McBride and others have no idea how their loved one ended up dead.
"This man just came to the door, by somebody just knocking? She didn't break in his house; she didn't break a window. What, you seen somebody on your porch and you just start shooting? And then you say it was accidental? That wasn't accidental; that wasn't accidental, no," Spinks said.
The family believes that McBride, who is black, was likely racially profiled and is relieved that the police have decided to seek charges in the case.
"I just want justice. I'm not going to stop until we get it," Spinks told Detroit News.
At a Wednesday night vigil, close to 40 family members and friends gathered to pray and share in their grief. Some chanted "No justice, no peace" and "Justice for Renisha."
"We are not going to let him get away with this senseless act he committed against this 19-year-old girl," Rev. W.J. Rideout told Detroit News.
According to Spinks, prosecutors have informed family members that the shooter is in his 50's. An autopsy has not yet been released.
McBride's case recalls a September incident where 24-year-old Jonathan Ferrell knocked on the front door of a house in Georgia in the early morning following a car accident. The homeowner, instead of opening the door, called 911. When three police officers arrived, Ferrell ran towards the squad before officer Randall Kerrick drew his gun and shot him 10 times, killing the unarmed Ferrell.
You withhold comment but you and I both know that calling DbHts a “predominantly white” suburb is reeeeeeeeeeally reaching for an excuse.
BTW, my oldest daughter lives in that general area. I might be able to give an FR update later tonight. I’ll shoot it to you if I get anything “juicy”.
I don't know about that; police seem to have set their sights a bit higher lately. No pun intended.
I don’t answer the door at 2:30am. Heck, I’m not likely to answer after :009m on autumnal or winter nights. Simple too dark outside to see who it is and no, I don’t want to turn on the light and let them know there is someone home.
Someone knocking and yelling to call the police? Yes, I’ll call the police and then wait & watch. Still not opening the door though, no matter how much knocking is going on.
2:30am is also just post bar scene closing time.
I think there is information missing from this story. Most folks I know would not even open the door, so what really happened?
This scene came to mind.
And, at this point, how do they know the shooter is white? Did they racially profile HIM or HER because they live in Dearborn Heights?
I wouldn’t be surprised. Dearborn Heights is still pretty racist...and yes, it is very heavily Democrat!
I own a shotgun and I've handled them much of my life. They go off intentionally. They go off through carelessness. They don't go off accidentally.
White neighborhood. Black “female yout” at the door at 02:00 hours. Could be “friends” hiding out of sight. Reasonable to assume.
We’ll see, to me this smells more of the idiot I believe in NYC who shot a kid in the back for playing doorbell dash, than it does the initial Zimmerman reports.
If the facts are anything like what’s been reported, the shooter isn’t just in a heap of trouble, they are a murderer.
No, suppose not. I’m not sure how it goes for most of Dearborn Heights.
Where’s Jesse, Al, and Krump?
I agree. What throws a monkey wrench in it, though, is that the police did not arrest anyone. Kinda like the Zimmerman case. If it is as clear cut as it seems, someone would have spent some hours at the police station and probably still be in custody. I do not believe that is what is happening here.
The implication is that there is critical information the police have that changes this quite a bit. Or maybe this guy just has powerful friends.
What if homeowner/good Samaritan realized he was about to be victimized and opened fire?
Just asking. This is Detroit, after all.
Made all the more upsetting by the fact that it was autobiographical.
If McBride's phone was dead (and now so is McBride), the aunt has no way of KNOWING what happened. The only person who KNOWS what happened is the shooter, and his side doesn't appear to be presented in the article.
Where I live we are even more secluded than them. But there is a lot less of the ol’ ultraviolence going on around here.
This matches the MO of thieves probing with the intent to gain entrance to a residence for the sole purpose of robbery, assault, rape, and murder. I have been present at homes that have been the recipient of these late-night "Knock on the door, looking for help", and we proved it was nothing more than probing to see what the response would be. (Note, neighboring residences were broken into and robbed when the knocking got no answers).
We also hear about white folks getting stuck in "da 'hood" and beaten simply because "dey ain't frum arund hea!".
It's a shame it's come to this, but you reap what you sow...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.