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Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged Demond Thomas Burgen, Jr., 19, of Harper Woods, in connection with the fatal shootings of his mother, Khalilah Elam, 45, also of Harper Woods and Reginald Farmer, Jr., 52, of Ypsilanti. Mr. Farmer was the boyfriend of Ms. Elam.

On September 2, 2022, at approximately 1:08 p.m., at a residence in the 19190 block of Woodside in Harper Woods, it is alleged that Defendant Burgen fired a handgun multiple times, fatally wounding his mother and Mr. Farmer. Harper Woods police officers were called to the scene and set up a perimeter around the residence. Officers entered the residence and located the victims in the upstairs bedroom suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Medics arrived on scene and pronounced Mr. Farmer deceased and transported Ms. Elam to a local hospital where she was pronounced deceased on arrival.

Officers located Defendant Burgen hiding in the basement of the home with a handgun against his head. After negotiations, Burgen was taken into custody at the scene. The Harper Woods Police Department was assisted by law enforcement agencies in the Grosse Pointes, and the East Wayne Special Response Team.

Demond Thomas Burgen, Jr. has been charged with two counts of First-Degree Murder and two counts of Felony Firearm. *

He was arraigned on September 4, 2022 in 32A District Court and given a $1,000,000 cash bond. The Probable Cause Conference is scheduled for September 14, 2022, at 1:30 p.m., and the Preliminary Examination is scheduled for September 21, 2022, at 1:30 p.m. Please request a photograph of the defendant from the Harper Woods Police Department.

*The charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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