Shooting produces agreement with public schools

By Charles Sercombe
The 15-year-old male accused of shooting two other teens will not be charged as an adult, according to Hamtramck police.
Instead, the teen suspect will face a charge of assault with intent to murder as a minor.
The teen, whose name is being withheld, also faces charges of using a gun in the commission of a felony, and carrying a concealed weapon.
The shooting took place on Monday, April 28, at about 8:30 p.m. at the Col. Hamtramck Housing project, where a 16-year-old male and a 17-year-old female were injured.
Police say the shooting erupted after the two older teens beat up the suspect, who then returned with a gun and shot them. One of the victims was grazed in the head and the other was wounded in the chest.
The suspect turned himself into police the next day, after his relatives tipped off investigators.
The housing project, where over 300 people live, has been a hotbed of almost daily criminal complaints, ranging from those concerning unwanted guests all the way up to ones for thefts, break-ins, and assaults.
If the suspect is convicted, he could face a combination of penalties including incarceration in a juvenile facility, rehabilitation, placement in a foster care and therapy.
Had he been charged as an adult, he faced life in prison.
In the meantime, Police Chief Jamiel Altaheri said there will be stepped up patrols in the projects, as well as the establishment of a police youth academy for housing residents, and, in July, the department plans to offer a series of get-togethers in the spirit of “fun and engagement.”
He said that since the suspect and victims attend Hamtramck Public Schools, he’s working with the interim superintendent to create two school resource officers for the district.
“Hamtramck is one of the few cities that don’t have current school resource officers,” Altaheri said. “This will help prevent violence, as well as addressing truancy issues, and keep our schools and children safe.”
Posted May 9, 2025