No suspects are yet in custody in the fatal shootings of two men and wounding of a third at a Southfield restaurant that appeared to be operating as a speakeasy in the early morning hours of Aug. 9.
During a Monday news conference, Southfield Police Chief Elvin Barren shared more details of the ongoing investigation into the homicides at the Hidden Gem Restaurant, including identifying the deceased victims as Christopher Griffith Jr., 24, of Redford and Johnny Jackson, 28, formerly of Harper Woods.
“We are noticing in southeast Michigan a lot of gatherings ending in gunfire and we will get to the bottom of this senseless incident and get justice for these families,” Barren said. “We believe the individuals involved were unknown to each other.”
The restaurant located in the basement of an office building at 16000 W. Nine Mile Road was operating after hours at about 3:30 a.m. Aug. 9 when multiple shots were heard from the parking lot, Barren said.
Police arrived to find Griffith in a hallway of the building, dead from a single gunshot wound to his lower leg.
While investigating, officers received a call from staff of Providence Hospital across the street, where Jackson had been privately transported with gunshot wounds to his legs, back and abdomen. He was pronounced deceased.
Shortly after, Detroit Police reported that a third gunshot victim had been privately transported to Sinai-Grace Hospital and arrived several minutes after the shooting occurred at Hidden Gem.
Barren said the 31-year-old New Haven resident sustained a non-life-threatening injury to his leg and is listed in stable condition.
“Unfortunately, he is uncooperative and refused to provide any additional information to detectives regarding his injury,” Barren said.
Detectives recovered a Glock 9 mm handgun belonging to one of the deceased victims, as well as firearms from three security guards at the scene.
Barren said the restaurant, which opened in 2019 under a different name and without a liquor license, was operating as an after-hours establishment.
While he said management has been cooperative, the investigation into the business practices of Hidden Gem will continue. The restaurant has not been shut down, Deputy Chief Aaron Huguley said.
On Monday, the restaurant was closed, as it typically would be according to hours on a glass front door that was shattered.
Southfield Police was assisted by the Oakland County Violent Gang Task Force (a division of the FBI), and the Oak Park and Lathrup Village Police assisted with crowd control and scene preservation.
Anyone with information regarding the shootings is asked to contact the Southfield Police Department at 248-796-5500 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Victims ID’d, more details revealed in Southfield Hidden Gem shootings
Reporting by Susan Bromley, Hometownlife.com / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Susan Bromley, Hometownlife.com | USA TODAY Network
