Two college students shot in Ypsilanti Township, deputies say
Two students — an Eastern Michigan University student and Washtenaw Community College student — suffered non life-threatening injuries after being shot during a fight on Briardale Court in Ypsilanti Township on Wednesday night, Washtenaw County sheriff's deputies said.
Sheriff's deputies and Ypsilanti police officers responded to a report of shots fired at 9 p.m. in the 2000 block of Briardale Court and stopped a vehicle leaving the area, sheriff's department spokesman Derrick Jackson said.
Two gunshot victims, both 19-year-old men, were inside the vehicle, Jackson said. They were taken to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, investigators said.
It appears they were shot while they were inside the vehicle, police said.
So far, no arrests have been made in the incident, which occurred in the township's West Willow neighborhood.
Sgt. David Archer said there was at least one shooter, believed to be on foot. Jackson said the victims did not have any weapons.
Investigators continue to interview witnesses to determine how the fight started and who was involved, Jackson said.
Anyone with information can call the sheriff's department's tip line at (734) 973-7711.
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Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
Angela Barbash
Sun, Jan 9, 2011 : 11:21 a.m.
Hey, if there's one thing we appreciate, it's help -- contributions for our Citizen's Patrol Team, resources to get these teenagers off the streets in the summer time, or just good ol' fashioned elbow grease are all appreciated! Our January Meeting is this MONDAY, JANUARY 10TH, 7PM @ KAISER ELEMENTARY. Feel free to come see what we're doing and how we're trying to change things, and then take those ideas back to your own neighborhood so you can help prevent these sorts of problems. Facebook: West Willow Neighborhood Email: WestWillowMedia@gmail.com Phone: (734) 719-0074
RJA
Sun, Jan 9, 2011 : 12:56 a.m.
In my back yard??? NOT!
joe golder
Sat, Jan 8, 2011 : 12:52 p.m.
I certainly don't envy the tough road ahead for you folks. Everyone in the surrounding communities should get behind your effort because this does affect everyone. These types of crime will spill over to other parts of the county. Please get out the info on the investors and land lords so others can help put pressure on them. Even supporting your assn. with money or resources will help make a difference. Thank you for taking a stance.
Angela Barbash
Fri, Jan 7, 2011 : 6:28 p.m.
Indeed, it is frustrating... many of these people live here, and they bring their drug deals and drug dealing friends here. That's why for the first time, we're working with the landlords and investors to get them on board with this idea that West Willow is not a destined ghetto. If they believe, then they'll be less likely to rent to these jerks. As for the homeowners... that's a tougher deal. But in the end, it's the non-drug dealing residents on and around Briardale that have to do the most work in standing up to this crap. Thanks for the point -- I'll be sure to mention this at Monday's neighborhood meeting, as I'm sure this and the shooting on Oswego last month will be hot topics.
eyeonthenews
Fri, Jan 7, 2011 : 5:41 p.m.
Everyone on that court knows whats going on. EVERY ONE. And many are willing participants. If you want to start cleaning up West Willow then Crack Court, oops!, Briardale Ct. is a good place to start.
Angela Barbash
Fri, Jan 7, 2011 : 11:27 a.m.
Just what all us West Willow residents wanted to see when we opened our email and A2.com page today... another shooting. :/ I know it's easy to say our neighborhood is a "war zone", and "beyond help", and "a hood" -- but really, chances are this was a drug deal gone wrong (the second in the past month), and drugs are everywhere. They're in your back yard too. West Willow isn't so different from all the other neighborhoods in the City or Township, our issues just get highlighted more often. And for everyone that has said that if we had more cops, this wouldn't have happened, or made some connection to our police budget and this crime -- how exactly does that work? Two drug dealers are in the middle of a deal, parked quietly in a car on a street, one pulls out a gun and shoots the other. There are 10 cops on the beat, not 5... are the extra cops going to be there to stop the drug deal? or the shots? are they going to stop when they drive by just because two guys are sitting in a car? Extra cops don't stop drug dealers from dealing drugs. Residents making it known that this crap won't be tolerated in their neighborhood stop drug dealers from thinking of this as a safe haven. Unfortunately, when we push them out of West Willow, they're just going to show up in your backyard. :(
Brian Dye
Thu, Jan 6, 2011 : 6:51 p.m.
@Joe West Willow Neighborhood is about 5 miles south east of EMU main campus. It borders Willow Run airport which is to it's east. The neighborhood was built in the 1950's as housing for the manufacturing workers at the Willow Run plant.
jcwest32
Thu, Jan 6, 2011 : 3:51 p.m.
Ypsi Township did pass the millage by a large vote. Problem is the township is not/did not add any more cops to the streets at the start of 2011. Same amount of Deputies as last year. Does anyone know why they did not add anyone. AA News might want to look into that.
joe golder
Thu, Jan 6, 2011 : 2:45 p.m.
How far is west willow from the city of ypsilanti?
dading dont delete me bro
Thu, Jan 6, 2011 : 1:51 p.m.
just got this from washtenaw county crime summary report. it explains quite a bit. i see NO college student reference... FELONIOUS ASSAULT 11-749 On 01/05/2011, Deputies assigned to Ypsilanti Township responded to the 2000 block of Briardale Court (East of Woodglen Avenue) for a shots fired complaint. Ypsilanti City Police Department Officers advised that they were out with two victims, who both had gunshot wounds, at Michigan Avenue and River Street in the City of Ypsilanti. It was determined both victims had been shot in the area of Briardale Court and Woodglen Avenue The Deputies discovered the victims were inside a vehicle that was parked in the street. Several subjects approached the vehicle and shots were fired into the vehicle. It is unknown at this time how many subjects shot at the vehicle. Two victims inside the vehicle were struck and the vehicle they were inside fled the scene. The vehicle stopped at Michigan Avenue and River Street and asked for assistance from several Ypsilanti City Police Officers. Both victims were transported to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The time of occurrence was at 9:03 PM on 01/05/2011. There is no suspect information at this time. This case is currently under investigation.
rusty shackelford
Thu, Jan 6, 2011 : 1:48 p.m.
lumberg, if only that were the excuse. But as you can see from his glamour shot, Higgins is definitely beyond his 20s. The crime reports are clearly a mix of copy/pasted police reports with a hastily written summary of a hastily obtained quote that does nothing to elucidate the original release. Then, no consideration is given to combining these two sources into a coherent style. Ryan Stanton, who IS in his 20s, is annarbor.com's most palatable writer.
Lovaduck
Thu, Jan 6, 2011 : 1:21 p.m.
I resent my comment being taken off because I merely pointed out that in past eras newspapers regularly named the ethnicity or sexual orientation of victims and perpetrators in order to create sensational headlines, just like the inappropriate mention of "college students" in your present headline. If the shoe fits....... I assume in your ignorance you thought I was insulting or being insensitive to minorities--nothing could be further from the truth. I was insulting the sensationalism of your inappropriate headline!
Slider
Thu, Jan 6, 2011 : 12:58 p.m.
When the headline says "In Ypsilanti Township," shouldn't you all have read that to mean that it didn't occur on or near campus? I think it is relevant to call them college students...it is a good identifier as to who they are, which is young adults who have something or other going for them in their life. Doesn't really suggest anything more or less than that.
Brad
Thu, Jan 6, 2011 : 12:39 p.m.
Anybody think they'd use that headline if they were UM students? Me neither.
Lovaduck
Thu, Jan 6, 2011 : 12:38 p.m.
I agree. Your headline was outrageous and misleading. They used to say"Two (fill in an oppressed ethnic or disliked gender group) shot". What does their status as college students have to do with what happened?
nowayjose
Thu, Jan 6, 2011 : 12:35 p.m.
Two words... Drug deal
stevek
Thu, Jan 6, 2011 : 12:27 p.m.
West Willow----I would never have thought someone could get shot there.
Killroy
Thu, Jan 6, 2011 : 12:21 p.m.
DRAMA over nuthin'
RJA
Thu, Jan 6, 2011 : 12:11 p.m.
OMG, West Willow again? I've said it before and will say it again, it is a war zone in it self. I hate to see any officers having to go into the neighbor hood. (for their own safety).
YooperTrooper
Thu, Jan 6, 2011 : 12:01 p.m.
@All: LOL Two gunshot victims, both 19-year-old men, were inside the vehicle, JACKSON SAID. They were taken to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, INVESTIGATORS SAID. It appears they were shot while they were inside the vehicle, POLICE SAID. (Emphasis; mine) It looks like annarbor.com talked to as many people as they could... If you weren't complaining that something was said, you'd be complaining that "nothing" was said. You can't have everything.
Brian Dye
Thu, Jan 6, 2011 : 11:50 a.m.
I agree with all here... The headline is nothing short of sensationalism, you know why this headline was used, because it got all of us to click on the story, so annarbor.com's tactics worked. How about you guys try to develop some journalistic integrity and stop writing like children. This headline is a prime example of why I canceled my A2.com print subscription after a week of deliveries. Sure i'll come on here and read your "news" for free but I refuse to support this nonsense monetarily. Shame on you annarbor.com. I fully expect this comment to conveniently not fit the conversation guidelines.
Steve in MI
Thu, Jan 6, 2011 : 11:47 a.m.
Two people were shot in the West Willow area of Ypsilanti township. Both victims were college students. Good work on the headline, guys - sensationally misleading, lead with the bleeding... worthy of local TV news. Who's gunning for a job at Fox 2?
ypsidog
Thu, Jan 6, 2011 : 11:36 a.m.
Police agencies provide back up for each other all the time, do not let the jurisdiction thing fool you, ypsi has 100% jurisdiction anywhere in washtenaw county.the dog
ypsituckian
Thu, Jan 6, 2011 : 11:23 a.m.
@Marcy, Ypsi township did vote in the police millage, actually. We'll hopefully see some better results in the year ahead.
lumberg48108
Thu, Jan 6, 2011 : 11:13 a.m.
Consensus with others - headline is misleading Two people were shot Later in the story, when identifying them, you can say they attend class at the schools This is what happens when you have 20 something year old writers with no experience and not enough experienced editors to guide them you get annarbor.com
dading dont delete me bro
Thu, Jan 6, 2011 : 10:42 a.m.
i now see wcsd AND ypsilanti police. why ypd? could it be because these two were college students?
dading dont delete me bro
Thu, Jan 6, 2011 : 10:41 a.m.
headline = fail. these two just happened to be college students. is ypsilanti police correct? west willow IS NOT ypd jurisdiction...try wcsd. please recheck your facts and report back. thank you
Marcy
Thu, Jan 6, 2011 : 10:39 a.m.
I have to agree with everyone, very misleading headline! They may be college students, but this had nothing to do with campus! Shame on the news for going for a sensational headline! Yes, that area needs to be cleaned up!! But then if township residents are not willing to pay for needed services they get what they pay for and rest of us need to stay out of the area!
ypsituckian
Thu, Jan 6, 2011 : 10:38 a.m.
Ho Ho Ho. Looks like Santa brought guns and ammo to the area. How come I didn't get any?
nickcarraweigh
Thu, Jan 6, 2011 : 10:35 a.m.
Two right-handed men shot? Two baseball fans shot? Two guys with aunts named "Lois" shot? Two guys who don't eat kale shot? What on earth is the connection between the shootings and their school attendance? Higgins seems to be an irresistible target of bad police jokes -- a few months ago he informed us that a person involved in another shooting was an SSI recipient, also without explanation of the connection between the attribute and the incident.
glimmertwin
Thu, Jan 6, 2011 : 10:32 a.m.
That area is beyond cleaning.
Rusnak
Thu, Jan 6, 2011 : 10:29 a.m.
First of all, WTH? What's with people? Used to be you got in fight someone won and that was the end of it. Now we shoot to kill people. Second, the statement that there are college students has nothing to do with the story. That statement makes it sound as if the shooting happened on campus. Are there editor positions available at A2.com? The area where this happened is a real garden spot too, the sheriffs department and residents of this area need concentrate on cleaning this area of Ypsilanti Twsp. up.
Soothslayer
Thu, Jan 6, 2011 : 10:25 a.m.
Yeah the order of the information in the headline is misleading, makes it sound like a campus shooting. A proper title would be "Shots fired at car in Ypsilanti Township leaving two local college students wounded". But hey what do I know.
Craig Lounsbury
Thu, Jan 6, 2011 : 10:09 a.m.
It's a long way from either campus.
glimmertwin
Thu, Jan 6, 2011 : 10:01 a.m.
The headline dragged me in - fortunately this doesn't sound like it has anything to do with the area colleges. No different than 2 pizza delivery drivers shot, etc. Please follow up this story when the facts are known.