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Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged Lawrence Deonte Gilchrist, 30, of Detroit, in connection with the homicide of Dieter Kirsch, 81, who was visiting from his home in Bremen, Germany.

On September 7, 2024, at approximately 10:14 a.m., Detroit police officers were dispatched to a building in the 1000 block of Woodward Avenue. Upon their arrival, officers located the victim on the ground, suffering from a head injury. Medics arrived on the scene transported the victim to a local hospital for treatment. Mr. Kirsch succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased on September 17, 2024.

It is alleged that Gilchrist approached the victim and without provocation hit him causing him to fall and injure his head.

Defendant Gilchrist's previous charges of Assault with Intent to do Great Bodily Harm and Aggravated Assault have been amended due to the death of Mr. Kirsch. He has now been charged with Second-Degree Murder.*

"A lot of work has gone into making our city a welcoming beacon to all, only to have the alleged horrific actions of this defendant deeply tarnish these efforts. But much more importantly, 81-year-old Dieter Kirsch must pay the undeserved price of what the defendant decided to do. This is heartbreaking on so many levels," said Prosecutor Kym Worthy.

He was arraigned and remanded to jail on the new charges today in 36^th District Court before Magistrate Laura Echartea. The Probable Cause Conference is scheduled for October 3, 2024, at 8:30 a.m., and the Preliminary Examination is scheduled for October 9, 2024, at 8:45 a.m., before Judge Kenneth King.

Please request a photograph of the defendant from the Detroit Police Department.

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

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