Grief and outrage are rippling across Detroits east side following a tragic drive-by shooting that took the life of a 16-year-old girl who had already endured an unthinkable amount of personal tragedy.

Police say 16-year-old Kaliyah Embery was gunned down Tuesday evening in a drive-by shooting near her home. Another young man, who was her friend, was injured in the attack.

Investigators say multiple shots were fired indiscriminately into a vehicle, killing the teenager.

Watch 7 News Detroit reporter Randy Wimbley's story in the video below:

16-Year-Old Girl Killed in Detroit East Side Drive-By Shooting Identified as Kaliyah Embery

"So for these ones that did this senseless act, this drive-by shooting, firing multiple shots into a vehicle, not even knowing who's in the vehicle, not caring we're going to throw the book at them," Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison said.

A life marked by grief

Embery's family shared the heartbreaking reality of the young teen's life, revealing that she had lost both her father and her mother a few years ago. Compounding the family's sorrow, her older sister died in a car crash earlier this year.

A wave of violence shakes Detroit

Quincy Smith, who leads Team Pursuit one of Detroits Community Violence Intervention groups noted that while this fatal drive-by did not happen within a designated CVI zone, its emotional impact is felt heavily across the entire city.

The tragedy adds to a grim and mounting wave of violent outbursts across Detroit over recent days:

On Monday, a mother and her 7-year-old daughter, Alayah Porties, were shot inside their apartment during a dispute over children. Over the weekend, a Saturday night shooting left a man dead and three others injured, including a 14-year-old boy in critical condition. Last Friday, 18-year-old Donovan Moss was gunned down.

"Im sick and I'm tired of the violence for individuals just simply not knowing how to regulate their own emotions and deal with their issues and their problems and their beefs from a conversation," Smith said. "That's a skill set that needs to be taught, and a lot of our young people lack that skill set."

Police step up patrols, community demands action

Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison announced that the 5th Precinct is stepping up patrols in the neighborhood where Kaliyah was killed, while homicide detectives aggressively work to track down the person or people responsible.

However, community leaders emphasize that law enforcement cannot do it alone.

"I think the community has a responsibility to call people out that, you know, they know. The hood knows, we got to start calling people out," Smith said. "If you cannot treat our seniors, our youth, women with respect and honor and be bearers of our community and uplift our community, then you don't deserve to be walking our streets freely."

"The community has to stand up and they gotta speak up and they gotta start turning folks in, plain and simple, cause this right here is out of control," Bettison said.

How to help

If you have any information about this shooting, you are urged to contact the Detroit Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP. Remember, you can always remain anonymous. Detroit Police is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

A suspect is now in police custody after a shooting on Detroits east side left a mother hospitalized and her 7-year-old daughter fighting for her life following an argument over children fighting.

The violent confrontation unfolded Monday afternoon at an apartment complex on Farnsworth Street near Gratiot Avenue and Van Dyke Avenue.

Police say a man forced his way into the apartment of 29-year-old Alexis Reaves during an argument over an earlier fight between children. Investigators say the gunman shot Reaves in the arm, and that same bullet passed through to strike her 7-year-old daughter, Alayah Porties, in the collarbone.

'They Had to Open Up My Grandbaby's Chest'

Both victims were rushed to local hospitals. Alexis Reaves is recovering up the street at Detroit Receiving Hospital. Meanwhile, young Alayah underwent emergency open-heart surgery at Childrens Hospital of Michigan.

"They had to open up my grandbaby's chest cavity to save her life," said the girl's grandmother, Annette Reaves. "The (bullet) fragments were traveling to her heart. If any fragments would have traveled more, it would have cut her heart and she would have been bleeding out."

A courageous neighbor, who asked to remain anonymous, rushed into the apartment immediately after the gunfire to provide crucial first aid to both mother and daughter.

"I just had to pause my brain like, 'Look, this is dangerous, this is serious. This baby can die,'" the neighbor recalled.

Community Left Reeling

Residents at the complex say the community is devastated, particularly because local children witnessed the aftermath and are deeply traumatized.

"She played with them every day. She was out here, they all were screaming and hollering," neighbor Phyllis Irvin said of Alayah. "The kids have been traumatized over this."

Phyllis and her son, Quinn Irvin, have lived in the complex for decades, calling the violent outburst a tragic and shocking anomaly for their usually quiet community.

"I think as, yeah, as a man we're supposed to have discipline, you know what I'm saying," Quinn Irvin said. "As a man, we're supposed to have discipline, yeah, and try to diffuse the situation."

Suspect Turns Himself In

Late Tuesday afternoon, Detroit Police announced a major break in the case: the suspected gunman turned himself in at the Detroit Police Department's 7th Precinct and is now in custody.

Once police wrap up their investigation, the case will be forwarded to the Wayne County Prosecutors Office for formal charging decisions.

Detroit police are investigating a deadly shooting that left one man dead and another injured Friday afternoon.

Watch Randy's report in the video player below: 1 dead, 1 injured in double shooting outside King Cole Foods in Detroits Piety Hill Neighborhood

The incident unfolded around 2:18 p.m. outside King Cole Foods, located on Clairmount Street near Woodward Avenue.

According to investigators, the first victim was shot inside the vestibule of the grocery store. He was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

A short time later, a second man arrived at an area hospital suffering from a gunshot wound. Police say he is currently listed in stable condition.

Police Investigating Surveillance Footage

Detroit Police Commander Philip Rodriguez spoke to reporters from the scene, noting that homicide investigators are actively canvassing the area and reviewing security footage.

"Unfortunately, we have one fatal victim and one nonfatal victim," Commander Rodriguez said. "We don't have any information right now as far as suspects or any of the investigation has revealed any leads. We are running some video, and I do have my homicide team out here conducting the investigation."

Investigators are examining surveillance cameras from the grocery store and have checked nearby apartment buildings for additional footage that may have captured the shooting or the suspect.

At this time, police have not released a motive or a suspect description.

How to Help

Authorities are asking anyone with information regarding the shooting to come forward. You can contact the Detroit Police Department or remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.

An 11-year-old boy is recovering at Childrens Hospital after undergoing surgery following an accidental shooting inside his fathers home on Detroits west side.

Watch Randy's report in the video player below: Father in police custody after son shoots his 11-year-old sibling with unsecured gun

Detroit police report the boys younger brother got hold of an unsecured firearm at the home on Artesian Street near Tireman Avenue and accidentally shot him.

The victim is now in stable condition and improving.

Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison announced a major development in the investigation, confirming that the boys' father has been taken into police custody.

'I Got Shot in the Mouth'

Following the shooting, the younger brother asked neighbor Norrice Turner for help.

"Well, I was laying in my bed, then I get up playing with my dog. I heard a gunshot," Turner said.

When Turner rushed over to the house, he found the 11-year-old badly injured.

"I go in and the brother is on the floor with a bunch of blood on there," Turner recalled. "So I'm telling him, 'Just be still, be still.' He was like, 'Help me, help me. My mouth hurting.' I said, 'Where did you get shot at?' He's like, 'I got shot in the mouth.'"

Turner immediately called 911 to get emergency medical personnel to the scene.

A source tells 7 News Detroit that there were several firearms inside the home, and all of themexcept for the handgun involved in the shootingwere locked inside a gun safe.

Community Canvass and Gun Safety Push

As police continue their investigation, community stakeholders took to the streets. Detroit Police Commissioner Victoria Camille and members of FORCE Detroit canvassed the Artesian Street neighborhood, speaking with residents about responsible firearm storage and handing out free gun locks door-to-door.

Van McSwain, who lives just doors down from where the shooting occurred, welcomed the outreach after a traumatic night for the block.

"I have children, grandchildren, so just to see the parents and the child shook up, it was bad," McSwain said. "I had nightmares last night."

McSwain added that he hopes the outreach effort doesn't stop here. "I hope they keep it going. I dont want them to stop because it dies down, I want it to keep going."

A Pattern of Unsecured Guns

Wednesday's shooting comes just a week after a Detroit Police officer and his wife were charged in Canton after their toddler son brought a loaded, unsecured handgun into a daycare facility in a backpack.

Related Story: Toddler found with loaded gun at Canton daycare Toddler found with loaded gun at Canton daycare; parent taken into custody

While no one was physically hurt in the daycare incident, community leaders say these back-to-back events highlight an ongoing, urgent crisis.

"Its a reminder to all of us that if youre exercising your right to own firearms, just keep them secure from our young people," Commissioner Camille said.

Once Detroit Police finish their investigation, the case will be presented to the Wayne County Prosecutors Office to determine formal charges against the father.

Free cable gun locks are available to the public with no questions asked at any Detroit Police precinct and most local law enforcement agencies across Metro Detroit.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Another Metro Detroit community is pulling the plug on its license plate reader cameras.

During a meeting Monday night, the Milford Village Council voted unanimously to cancel a $36,500 contract that operated 10 Flock Safety cameras. That decision follows an earlier vote in June to scrap an $18,2500 contract for five other camerasending roughly $55,000 in total contracts for 15 cameras across the village.

Milford Police Chief Scott Tarasiewicz says the automated license plate readers (ALPRs) were instrumental in solving a wide range of crimes, from high-profile break-ins to missing persons cases and murder investigations.

Watch the Full Story Below

"We had a homicide at the beginning of the year that was a big part of us being able to track where this guy is going prior to and after, and even part of the apprehension process. We were able to wrap that up in about 4 hours, be able to get him in custody," Tarasiewicz said.

The chief also pointed to a major theft investigation aided by the system.

"We had a Chilean gang come up here, do some break-ins. We were able to follow them down to Tennessee where they were arrested and brought back," Tarasiewicz said, adding, "Weve found missing people because of these cameras."

Unresponsive Service and Rising Privacy Concerns

Despite the technology's track record in solving cases, Chief Tarasiewicz supported terminating the contracts due to ongoing service and maintenance issues with the vendor after cameras were vandalized and damaged.

"About a month and a half ago, someone cut the wires, and I have one thats been repaired since then. Work orders week after week waiting on the other ones to get going, and it just hasnt happened," Tarasiewicz explained.

Milford joins a growing list of communities nationwide reconsidering or cancelling contracts with Flock Safety amid mounting public debate over privacy, data retention, and potential misuse of surveillance technology.

Local residents, including Jeff Garner, spent months campaigning against the installation of the cameras in the village.

"When I first learned about these cameras and their capabilities, it kinda threw me that no matter where I went, I was on someones camera," Garner said.

The Future of License Plate Readers in Milford

The village's remaining Flock cameras are scheduled to go offline later this month. However, police leadership maintains that license plate reading technology still has a place in public safety.

Chief Tarasiewicz hopes to eventually explore license plate readers from a different vendoronce state or federal lawmakers enact clearer guidelines regarding how data is managed and accessed.

"The proof is there that they work," Tarasiewicz said. "I think going forward there is an opportunity within this community for LPRs. I do think with the pending legislation federally and through Michigan, I think we'll see some guardrails on that."

Robert Isho, 34, was arraigned Wednesday on a felony charge of reckless driving causing death in connection with a May 31 crash that killed O'Brian Nelson on  Woodward  Avenue in Bloomfield Township.

Watch Randy's story in the video player below: Robert Isho arraigned in fatal Woodward Avenue crash that killed O'Brian Nelson

Isho faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. His next scheduled court dates are October 13 for a Probable Cause Conference and October 20 for a Preliminary Exam.

For the first time, Nelson's family sat in the same courtroom as the man police say was behind the wheel in the fatal crash.

"It's just a lot of emotion, just trying to contain ourselves. A lot of our other family members just could not walk in with us, you know, it's, it's so hard, it's so real. We've never experienced anything like this," Bryan Nelson said.

Bloomfield Township police say Isho was driving a Jeep Cherokee westbound on Quarton Road when he ran a red light at Woodward Avenue. He struck a Dodge Charger before T-boning Nelson's vehicle. The driver of the Charger survived the crash.

Roughly 117 days passed between Nelson's death and the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office reaching a charging decision. Police say one reason the investigation took months is that Isho was hospitalized until late July, and investigators could not subpoena his medical records until after he was discharged.

Isho's attorney, Neal Rockind, called the crash tragic.

Related Story: Charges filed in crash that killed O'Brian Nelson Charges filed in crash that killed O'Brian Nelson nearly four months after his death

"Whenever there's a loss of life, I have to pause and acknowledge the deceased, which I've done and which we've done with the decedent's family. No family wants to be in this situation, but like all who are charged with the crime, Robert is presumed innocent," Rockind said.

"He's entitled to and eager for his day in court. At that time, when we're in court, we'll be ready and prepared to defend against the allegations and the charges. There's another side of the story, one that has not been told. It will be told in the courtroom, not outside, and not in the media," Rockind said.

During the arraignment, Rockind urged the court to issue a personal bond citing similar cases. He said that some courts use a "big stick" when it comes to determining bonds to demonstrate their authority. Magistrate Andra Richardson pushed back.

"I'm not that person. But I do take cases where somebody died very very serious. That's not a big stick," Richardson said.

Magistrate Andra Richardson issued a $25,000 10-percent bond, which Isho posted. One condition of the bond prohibits Isho from getting behind the wheel.

Nelson's family told me they had a brief exchange with Isho's mother outside the courtroom.

"What she said, she is really broken about what her son did. She admitted that to me personally," Bryan Nelson said.

Isho's mother's acknowledgment offered little comfort to Nelson's stepmother.

"I just think it was just too late for them to say something, you know? Mother to mother, brother to brother, family to family," Andrea Nelson said.

Despite the pain, the family said they are relieved the legal process is moving forward.

"It's just wanting, coming closer to justice, you know, and that's what we've been stressing on a long time now. Justice, and we'll forever be advocating for that," Bryan Nelson said.

"We are here, we're trembling, we're just trying to keep it together. It's just a hard pill to swallow," Bryan Nelson said.

Nelson's family has already filed a civil lawsuit against Isho.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.