By ZEINAB NAJM
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN — Police arrested two men in connection to the fatal shooting of a 19-year-old Detroit resident at Five Star Liquor, 7951 Chase Road near Tireman Ave.
Timothy Bennett, 34, of Inkster and Stephen Pruitt, 46, of Detroit were charged by the Wayne County Prosector’s Office with first degree homicide, assault with intent to murder, felony firearm and felon in possession of a firearm.
Both were arraigned in front of 19th District Court Judge Sam Salamey and will be back in court for a probable cause hearing at 9 a.m. July 31. They are currently being held at the Wayne County Jail on no bond.
Detroit and Dearborn Police responded to the liquor store at about 10:15 p.m. July 16 on a report of a shooting. Once at the scene, they discovered the 19-year-old was fatally shot and a 31-year-old Detroit resident who was critically injured from a non-fatal gunshot wound.
Dearborn police are seeking information on these two men who are possibly people in interest in the July 16 fatal shooting.
The 31-year-old is still hospitalized.
The suspects and victims knew each other, Police Chief Ronald Haddad said.
He also said that Dearborn police identified and arrested two suspects for shooting within 16 hours of it taking place.
“That was very key for us, to really bring this to a close because we knew how violent and ruthless these individuals were,” Haddad said at a crime roundup press conference July 21. “Neighborhood stores are often crowded and meeting places. These subjects were ruthless and extremely dangerous to our community.”
Police are looking to identify and locate two other men who are people of interest in the shooting. Anyone with information on the men can call Dearborn police at 313-943-2240.
Friends and family of the 19-year-old Detroit resident held a candlelight vigil July 18 outside the liquor store.
(Zeinab Najm can be reached at [email protected])