Detroit Triple Murder: Children witness homicide in abandoned Detroit home, report says

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

Detroit police are investigating a gruesome triple murder after three people were found shot to death on the city's west side on March 7, 2013.

/ WWJ

(CBS) DETROIT - Two young children watched as a man fatally shot their mothers and another person inside an abandoned Detroit home, CBS Detroit reports.

According to the station, the children spent the night with the bodies before help arrived, one of the victims' relatives says.

Neighbors reported hearing gunshots Wednesday night at or near a house on Detroit's west side. The next morning, a neighbor made the gruesome discovery inside the house - three people had been shot to death and two children, ages 5 and 1, were left abandoned, the station reports.

Police say they received calls reporting the gunshots Wednesday night, but were given the wrong address and therefore did not arrive at the correct address until new calls came in the next morning.

Police identified two of the victims as 25-year-old Lauren Trotty and 20-year-old India Coleman. The third victim, 25-year-old Curtis Clements, was identified by family members.

Police said all of the victims appeared to have suffered from gunshot wounds, but provided no additional details. Reports say a shotgun was used in the killings.

Kenyetta Hunt, a relative of Clements, told reporters Trotty's 5-year-old child witnessed the shooting and identified the shooter as her mother's ex-boyfriend. The toddler also reportedly said the 1-year-old, Coleman's child, witnessed the shooting as well.

Detroit police say they have made one arrest in the case, although that person's identity was not immediately released. An investigation is ongoing.

CBS Detroit reports the city has thousands of vacant homes, many of which are a magnet for crime.

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by mieanyody March 9, 2013 7:19 PM EST: CuriousServant I could not agree with you more! Scary to think there are people like this roaming the planet!; Reply to this comment


by judymar14 March 9, 2013 11:23 AM EST: Horrible for these two innocents to have seen this then stayed with the bodies overnight - especially the five year old, he will never forget this. There can be only one reason for this atrocity, DRUGS!; Reply to this comment