A black 14-year-old boy who got lost in a Detroit suburban neighborhood while trying to get to school was shot at by a white homeowner after knocking on a door to ask directions, prosecutors said Friday, citing home security video and the account of the boy.
Jeffery Zeigler, a retired Detroit firefighter, was arraigned Friday on charges including assault with intent to murder.
Oakland County sheriff's deputies were called to Zeigler's Rochester Hills' home about 8:20 a.m. Thursday after a woman told 911 that her husband had chased a black male who tried to break in. Deputies learned that a shot had been fired and found Brennan Walker — unharmed — down the street.
This undated photo provided by the Oakland County Sheriff's Office in Michigan, shows Jeffery Zeigler. A black, suburban Detroit teen trying to get to school was shot at by Zeigler, a homeowner in Rochester Hills, Mich., after knocking on Zeigler's door to ask directions, said prosecutors who add that home security video backs up the 14-year-old's account of the terrifying encounter. Zeigler, a retired Detroit firefighter, was arraigned Friday, April 13, 2018 on assault with intent to murder and weapons charges.(Oakland County Sheriff's Office via AP)
Walker's statement to police differed from that given by Zeigler, according to assistant prosecutor Kelly Collins.
"We do have the benefit of home security video," Collins told the court Friday. He said Zeigler's account was not borne out by the video.
"The victim in this matter, a 14-year-old child, indicated what had happened to the police and his version did bear out on that video," he said.
The video was taken from Zeigler's home security system.
Zeigler, 53, attempted to give an account of the events Friday at his court appearance which was via video from the county jail.
"There's a lot more to the story than what's being told and I believe that will come out in court," he told Judge Julie Nicholson. "I was in bed yesterday morning and my wife came screaming and crying ..."
It was there that Nicholson stopped Zeigler, whose attorney was not in court for the arraignment.
Walker has said he woke up late Thursday, missed his school bus and became lost in the Christian Hills subdivision while trying to walk the bus route to Rochester High School.
When he knocked on the door to Zeigler's home, Walker said a woman inside began yelling "'why are you trying to break into my house?'" he told WJBK-TV. "I was trying to explain to her that I was trying to get directions to Rochester High and she kept yelling at me. Then the guy came downstairs and he grabbed the gun. I saw it and started to run. And that's when I heard the gunshot."
Walker's mother, Lisa Wright, said it was clear to her what was behind the shooting after investigators showed her the security video.
"After watching the video and hearing the wife say 'why did these people choose my house?' I knew it was racially-motivated," Wright told WXYZ-TV. "I don't know what other 'these people' she could possibly have been talking about. He was by himself."
Wright said people in the neighborhood shouldn't be afraid of a child, "let alone a skin tone."
"We should not have to live in a society where we have to fend for ourselves," she added. "If I have a question, I should be able to turn to my village and knock on a door and ask a question."
Zeigler's bond was set at $50,000. He was ordered to have no contact with Walker or the teen's family, to wear a GPS tether and to turn over any weapons to the sheriff's office.
He also was told that he couldn't return to his house and had to stay at least 10 miles from Walker's Rochester Hills' home.
"I'd really like to stay in my home and keep my family together," Zeigler told the judge. "I promise to have no contact with the gentleman."
Nicholson set an April 24 probable cause conference and May 1 preliminary exam.
A Dearborn Heights man is serving at least 17 years in prison after being convicted of murder in the 2013 fatal shooting of a black woman who pounded on his door after crashing her car. Police have said that Renisha McBride, 19, was drunk when Ted Wafer shot her through the screen door of his home, just west of Detroit.
Wafer, who is white, has said he believed his home was being broken into.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Spencer Turnbull carried a no-hit bid into the seventh inning, Alec Bohm hit a pair of three-run homers and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Chicago White Sox 7-0 on Friday night to extend their winning streak to four.
Chicago has lost seven of eight and 12 of 14, dropping to a major league-worst 3-16. The White Sox have been shut out seven times and are hitting a major league-low .190.
Turnbull (2-0) didn’t allow a hit until Gavin Sheets singled into right field with one out in the seventh. He struck out six and walked two, pitching seven innings for the first time since his no-hitter for Detroit against Seattle on May 18, 2021.
“I thought about it a couple times,” Turnbull said of a no-hitter. “But you try to keep it out of your head for a little while, at least until after the game.”
Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Turnbull likely wouldn’t have gone the full nine innings even with a no-hit bid intact.
“I think I would have gotten him out before he got to his pitch limit,” Thomson said. "We’re not going to put him in jeopardy.”
Turnbull retired 14 consecutive batters after a two-out walk to Paul DeJong in the second. Phillies starters have allowed one earned run over 29 1/3 innings in their last four games.
Before the game the Phillies announced Taijuan Walker will make one more rehab start for Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Sunday. He then could return to the Phillies rotation, which could cause Turnbull to move to the bullpen. However, Turnbull’s making that decision difficult on Phillies management.
“Obviously I want to make it as hard as possible,” Turnbull said. “I want to start and give myself the best chance and give the team the best chance to win when I’m out there. But those decisions aren’t really up to me. I’m just here to help the team win in whatever role that is.”
With the Phillies wearing their blue, yellow and black jerseys for the second time, Matt Strahm allowed Nicky Lopez’s one-out single in the eighth and Orion Kerkering pitched the ninth, finishing a two-hitter.
Bohm matched a career high with six RBIs and had his fourth career two-homer game. He drove a four-seam fastball from Garret Crochet (1-3) over the right-field scoreboard in the first and a full-count cutter into the left-center field seats in the third.
Bohm leads the Phillies with 17 RBI. He credited some tweaks to how the team prepares for opposing pitchers this season for a better approach at the plate.
“It’s a little more in depth and a little more focused work during the day against what the guy’s featuring that night,” Bohm said. “Putting the machine on an angle. Little things like that just trying to emulate what we’re going to see out there that night.”
Whit Merrifield homered in the fourth off Crochet, his first with the Phillies, and Trea Turner had his fourth three-hit game this season.
Crochet allowed seven runs and five hits in three innings.
“He got behind in the count and threw too many pitches,” White Sox manager Pedro Grifo saidl. “Every time there’s a crooked number there’s probably a walk somewhere."
UP NEXT
RHP Zack Wheeler, 0-3 despite a 3.00 ERA in four starts, will pitch for the Phillies on Saturday against Michael Soroka (0-2, 6.98).
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Philadelphia Phillies' Alec Bohm, right, rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run against Chicago White Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, April 19, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia Phillies' Alec Bohm, left, and Bryce Harper celebrate after the Phillies won a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Friday, April 19, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia Phillies' Alec Bohm, right, and Trea Turner celebrate after Bohm's three-run home run against Chicago White Sox's Garrett Crochet during the third inning of a baseball game, Friday, April 19, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia Phillies' Spencer Turnbull pitches during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Friday, April 19, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia Phillies' Spencer Turnbull reacts after pitching the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Friday, April 19, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
