Four people charged in Detroit triple homicide
DETROIT – Charges have been brought against four suspects after three people were found stabbed inside a burning house on Detroit’s west side last week, reports the Detroit Free Press.
According to Detroit police, 20-year-old Larry Johnson, Rashawn Johnson, Tenisha Jackson and Keeshon Lake (all 19 years of age) are each charged with three counts of first-degree murder, three counts of felony murder, two counts of armed robbery and one count of arson. Larry Johnson also faces charges for allegedly heroin possession and a felony firearms offense.
A missing vehicle and other items belonging to the victims helped police link the suspects to the crime.
On Feb. 10, firefighters responding to a house fire found a dying man on the burning home’s first floor and two dead men in the basement.
The Wayne County Medical Examiner’s Office told the Free Press that Lawrence Bowman, 51, had been stabbed multiple times and died from a gunshot wound to the head.
Bowman’s 26-year-old son, Nicholas Bowman, and 24-year-old Michael Hoots were both stabbed to death, police said. Nicholas Bowman, who died after being taken to the hospital, lived in the house with his father.
“The nature of the wounds were horrific, all three victims were stabbed multiple times,” said Detroit Police Sgt. Michael Woody in a news release. “In addition, the fire had been obviously set to cover up what turned out to be a brutal murder in an attempt to destroy potential evidence.”
Woody said the victims were tortured.
Authorities tracked Hoots’ missing 2013 Chrysler 200 to an area in Redford Township. From there, Woody said, police were able to zero in on an address and arrested Tenisha Jackson and Larry Johnson on Feb. 11.
Woody told the Free Press that cops found identification belonging to two of the victims, as well as personal belongings. Bloody clothing was also found.
In the early hours of the morning on Feb. 12, police arrested Rashawn Johnson and Keeshon Lake, separately.
All four suspects were arraigned over the weekend, Woody said. The sergeant also credited the Detroit and state police investigators for their “tireless” work in the arrests.