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Detroit Man Charged in Southfield Freeway Fatal Shooting

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged Derrick Devon Durham, 24 (DOB: 12/10/1994), of Detroit, in connection with the fatal shooting of three-year-old Christian Miller on the Southfield Freeway in Detroit.

On January 24, 2019 at approximately 7:05 p.m., Detroit Police officers responded to a BP gas station located at the intersection of Plymouth Road and the Southfield Freeway in Detroit. Upon arrival, the officers observed to a 38-year-old Detroit woman, who was the godmother to a Christian Miller, a three-year-old male infant who suffered from a gunshot wound. Medics arrived on the scene and transported him to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injury on January 25, 2019.

Earlier that evening, at approximately 6:40 p.m., the child was seated behind his godmother in the rear passenger area of her car, and her son was on the right rear passenger area, on their way to attend an event in Detroit. While on the northbound Southfield Freeway Service Drive, the female driver noticed a vehicle pull alongside her on the driver side. The woman observed two people in the vehicle. She also observed the other driver raise a right arm and point something. Upon hearing glass shatter, the female driver pulled over, and watched the vehicle exit the freeway. She exited the freeway, pulled into a gas station and called 911 for help.

It is alleged that the defendant was the driver of the second vehicle, and fired a weapon into the woman's vehicle, fatally striking her three-year-old passenger. More complete facts and evidence in the case will be presented at the preliminary examination.

Durham has been charged with Open Murder, Discharge from a Vehicle Causing Death, Felon in Possession of a Firearm and three counts of Felony Firearm.*

Durham was arraigned this afternoon before 36^th District Court Magistrate Bari Blake Wood. The Probable Cause Conference is scheduled for February 6, 2019 at 8:30 a.m.; the Preliminary Examination is scheduled for February 13, 2019 at 1:30 p.m. Both hearings are before Judge Ronald Giles in 36^th District Court. The defendant was remanded to jail.

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

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