A 24-year-old Michigan man was arrested and charged with murdering a 3-year-old boy during a shooting on a Detroit freeway on Jan. 24.
The source said that the godmother, who was taking Christian and another young boy to see “Sesame Street Live,” unknowingly cut off Durham on the freeway at about 6:40 p.m.
That’s when Durham, enraged at being cut off, pulled alongside the vehicle and fired a single shot.
The bullet struck Christian between his shoulder blades. The boy was rushed to a hospital but died the next day.
According to the police source, Durham said he was unaware that any children were in the vehicle. Durham has two prior felony convictions, an assault and a drug-related conviction.
Detroit Police Chief James Craig hailed members of the public who helped identify Durham, leading to him surrendering at the Michigan State Police building in the city.
Durham turned himself in after police officers recovered his vehicle and a $10,000 reward was offered for information leading to his arrest. Durham’s family convinced him to turn himself in, police officials said.
About what happened, Shaw added: “We’ve got some real knuckleheads out there driving on the freeways and the roadways of Michigan.” Despite the intense situation, he said Christian’s godmother “didn’t get involved” and “did all the right stuff.”
Wyatt Harris, an attorney who’s representing Durham, said that his client is doing “as best as can be expected.
If convicted, Durham faces life in prison.
The court entered a not guilty plea on his behalf and a probable cause hearing was scheduled for Feb. 5.
Family Members React
Christian’s family mourned the loss of the young boy after his death.She said that he loved to play at Chuck E Cheese’s and to sing his ABC’s.
“He was just a baby. Innocent life barely started,” added his cousin Tanisha Crawford.
Christian’s mother Tomika Whitley said she got the dreaded call from the boy’s godmother.
“She was crying and I’m like what’s wrong. She kept crying, she said Christian had been shot. I couldn’t believe it,” she said.
Christian’s father Richard Miller said the day his son died was the “worst day of my life.”
About whoever shot him, Miller added: “He took my child, now it’s time for him to pay the price.”