Suspect In Bus Stop Shooting Released

Detroit (WWJ)  -- The young man who police say was the main suspect in the shooting of seven teens at a westside Detroit bus stop was
released from custody Thursday. 

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said there was "insufficient evidence" to issue a warrant for 18-year old Jamel Turner.

"The suspect will be released in the best interests of justice," Worthy said in a statement late Thursday afternoon.  "The Detroit Police Department and the Detroit Public Schools Office of Public Safety Officers will continue to work diligently on this case.  We urge any person with information to call the Detroit Police Department."

Detroit Police Chief James Barren said Wednesday afternoon that Turner had turned himself into police Wednesday.  Turner's attorney David Jones told reporters Turner was innocent, and questioned how his client was handled by police.

"They were very confident and brass, in my opinion, at the press conference (Wednesday) about this being a prime suspect--the prime suspect.  It went from that all the way to 'maybe he was the driver'.  Now I'm hearing 'maybe he knows somebody who was involved,'" said Jones.

Meantime, Cody Ninth Grade Academy--near M-39 and Warren--was locked down briefly Thursday morning after reports circulated about gunshots in the area, the same area where Tuesday's shootings took place.

Detroit police and Detroit Public Schools police couldn't confirm that shots were fired Thursday morning.  Some students called their parents and were picked up from school, according to district spokesman Steve Wasko.  

About an hour before the reports of shots fired, Detroit Mayor Dave Bing met with two of the wounded teens and urged Detroit residents to get involved to help stem violence throughout the city.

"Looking at the two young people, it hurts,'' Bing told WWJ's Vickie Thomas and other reporters outside Sinai Grace Hospital.  Bing said the shooting was an isolated incident.

"These victims are innocent, they're children, they're the future of our city and we've got to protect them."

Deputy Mayor Saul Green said the mayor would meet with the U.S. Attorney in Detroit on a strategy to fight crime.  A plan will be in place before fall classes start, Bing said. 

Listen to more from Mayor Bing. 

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