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DETROIT (AP) — A 19-year-old man was critically wounded after suspected gang members fired into a crowd of students following an evening event at a Detroit high school.
Darryl Smith was in the East English Village Preparatory Academy parking lot Friday night when he was caught in the line of fire, Detroit Police Chief James Craig told reporters Saturday outside the east-side school.
"These cowardly individuals, these violent predators yelled out some gang affiliation — the local street gang in this area — and following that they fired several shots, one certainly striking this young man," Craig said.
"This is not acceptable. We believe this involved two local street gangs. We know who they are. They should know we're not going to rest until we dismantle both gangs."
Craig said Smith is not involved in any gangs.
"My grandson is a good boy. He didn't deserve any of this," Smith's grandmother, Elaine Redus, said.
Redus said Smith graduated from high school last year and was there to visit an uncle following the school's annual Grammy Night for high school seniors and families.
About 800 people attended the event, according to school district spokesman Steve Wasko.
Parents at the 1,500-student school were notified about the shooting and additional security officers will be at the academy Monday, Wasko added.
Police originally reported the shooting as fatal, but announced Saturday that Smith was being treated in a local hospital.
No other injuries were reported.
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