A warehouse owner on Detroit's west side claims repeated burglaries over the years have cost him tens of thousands of dollars and are preventing him from renovating his property to reopen as a business.

Watch Randy Wimbley's video report: Detroit warehouse hit in a dozen reported break-ins, owner says it cost him thousands

Jad Taleb says thieves have stolen car parts, copper wiring, and air conditioning coils, among other items, from his warehouse, with losses totaling well over $70,000 to $80,000.

"Somebody has your stuff in the back of their car and you can't do anything about it," Taleb said.

The most recent break-in occurred Tuesday morning, but Taleb says the thefts date back years. The Detroit Police Department says there have been a dozen reported break-ins since 2018, with seven occurring this year alone.

"If you could put a dollar amount on the property stolen here over the years. It's well over the $70-80,000 range at this point," Taleb said.

Extended interview: Business owner talks about numerous break-ins he's experienced over the years Extended interview: Business owner talks about numerous break-ins he's experienced over the years

"This crew that's been hitting recently, they started back in February, hitting us. We got hit on and off a couple days, on a couple days, off for about seven days in total," he said.

During the most recent break-in, Taleb arrived at the scene as the suspects were attempting to flee. The thieves got caught on an electric pole wire while trying to drive out, damaging their vehicle in the process and leaving behind wreckage.

"He got stuck in the wiring and kept trying to go forward, back, forward, back, forward, back," Taleb said.

"Hit my car about three to four times, and when he got loose on the wire, he came right at me and went right back northbound up Freeland again," he said.

Taleb followed the men to the Warren and Livernois area in southwest Detroit. He says he has clear surveillance footage of the suspects and has even encountered them selling his stolen property.

SURVEILLANCE VIDEO: Break ins at Detroit business caught on camera (** WARNING: Contains profanity**) SURVEILLANCE VIDEO: Break ins at Detroit business caught on camera (** WARNING: Contains profanity**)

"So, we have them on video. You can see them as clear as day," Taleb said.

"I once found them in Dearborn selling my stuff too. Very frustrating," he said.

Taleb says he first purchased the warehouse, which was formerly an auto collision shop, in 2017 and started experiencing break-ins about a year later. Taleb says he closed the business in 2019 and is now trying to renovate the space to reopen as a recycling facility, but says the ongoing burglaries are hampering that effort.

"We stockpile as much as we can stock to rehab these buildings in Detroit, and everything gets stolen time and time again," Taleb said.

Despite the frustrations, Taleb praised the detective working on his case.

"The detective has been doing a really amazing job. She's really on top of it," Taleb said. "I know they're trying their best as far as the police go. I mean, I was a cop, I know how it is," he said.

The Detroit Police Department says it is aware of the situation, is in contact with Taleb, and is actively investigating the break-ins.

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.

A 16-year-old boy is recovering after being stabbed four times outside a high school football game Thursday night, prompting the evacuation of the football field and raising concerns about escalating violence at youth sporting events.

Watch Randy Wimbley's video report: Police investigating stabbing of teen outside football game

The stabbing occurred at the conclusion of the matchup between Southeastern and King high schools, just outside school property. The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital with wounds to his neck, back, and head.

"All we heard were people screaming, and they ran back, and they were like he got stabbed, and I'm like, what. You saw the boy, and he was holding his neck," said Saniyha Griffin, who witnessed the incident.

The chilling scene left many in attendance shaken as the football field was evacuated.

"I was pretty scared because I didn't know if they had any firearms or other weapons with them to try to harm everybody else," Griffin said.

"When we heard about the stabbing and everything, it was kinda horrifying. We were just trying to find out if our kids were safe," said Kathy Brown-Williams.

Detroit Police Commander Lawrence Purifoy said the incident was an intentional confrontation.

"This was at the conclusion of the game, they was just outside of the school's property. They met up to fight intentionally, and here we are," Purifoy said.

George Ward, who coached basketball at Southeastern and currently coaches at King, works with community stakeholders to prevent escalating violence. He expressed concern about the incident's broader implications.

"This is a result of adult neglect, and I hate to say it," Ward said.

Ward and community violence intervention groups are working to prevent potential retaliation.

"What we're going to try to do, there are a number of CVI groups in our city, obviously, we're going to try to get in front of this thing from a retaliation standpoint. We know what's next," Ward said.

Police are reviewing witness statements and video of the altercation to develop a suspect.

"So I would encourage anyone that has any information, those people that are in that video, they know who they are, please come forward to the Fifth Precinct and talk to us because we're going to talk to you," said Detroit Police Captain Scott Pellerito.

Purifoy emphasized the need for community intervention to address youth violence.

"The parents, our teens, our community groups, our mentors, we really need to sit down with our teens and explain to them there are other ways to resolving their differences other than fighting," Purifoy said.

Ward fears the increasing violence at youth sporting events could lead to restrictions on fans at games.

"I think the inevitability of that is right in our face," Ward said.

"You know there's always been fights; this isn't something new, but now the violence has increased. And now we're looking at a situation where we're talking about guns, we're talking about knives, and it's been repetitious," Ward said.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Detroit Police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.

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.

What started as stalking ended in a shooting that left an innocent Sumpter Township man hospitalized with two gunshot wounds, police say.

Watch Randy Wimbley's video report: Stalking incident leads to shooting of innocent Sumpter Township man, police say

The suspected shooter followed his ex-girlfriend and her date 18 miles to the date's friend's house, where he shot the friend who came outside to intervene, according to police.

7 News Detroit obtained video of Sumpter Township police arresting Dominic McBride a little after 11 p.m. Sunday. Just moments prior, the 22-year-old from Wayne allegedly shot 40-year-old Michael Tackett on his front porch.

The gunfire jarred neighbors in the quiet residential area.

"The moment that it occurred, we really thought it was just fireworks," Jenna Shiel said. "My husband was like, 'well, let me go take a peek outside and see what's happening,' and that's when we saw everything that was happening outside."

Police say a round struck Tackett in his chest and another grazed his cheek.

Violence stemmed from movie theater encounter

The violence stemmed from an encounter earlier that night when police say McBride spotted his ex-girlfriend with another man at a movie theater in Canton and made some form of contact with them. When the pair left, McBride followed them 18 miles to Tackett's home. Tackett's friend was the man on a date with the woman.

Police say the couple called Tackett, telling him they were being followed. When the trio arrived, Tackett stepped out of his house to tell McBride to leave.

"The guy came outside and said hey, we can't be doing this, I've got a 10-year-old sleeping inside. And that's unfortunately when a gun was pulled and Mike was shot," a neighbor said.

Joycelynn Armatis, another neighbor, witnessed the aftermath and McBride's arrest.

"I was laying in bed and I heard two gunshots go off and then I stood up and looked out my bedroom window and that's when the Dodge Ram truck flew down here at the stop sign," Armatis said.

"He got out, he was pacing in front of his truck, talking I think on his phone and that's when the cops flew up and got him on the ground and got him in the cop car."

Victim fighting for recovery

McBride is now charged with several felonies including:

Assault with intent to murder Assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder Assault with a dangerous weapon (felonious assault) Felony firearm

Tackett is undergoing treatment at a local hospital, with his neighbors keeping tabs on his progress.

"He is still in a medically induced coma. He endured multiple hours of surgery and fortunately, they got him in a more stable condition, but he is still fighting," Shiel said.

A fundraiser has been created to support Tackett in his recovery.

McBride is locked up on a $500,000 bond. He's due back in court Sept. 24 for a probable cause conference.

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.

Non-profits supporting victims of domestic violence and sexual assault are bracing for potential funding cuts as state budget negotiations continue, with advocates warning the reductions could put lives at risk.

Watch Randy Wimbley's video report: Domestic violence groups face potential funding cuts amid state budget talks

Federal funds that these organizations heavily rely on are decreasing, and the state's support to provide gap funding was lowered $4 million in a budget passed by state House Republicans. The Senate has yet to approve a budget.

RELATED REPORT: Canton police investigating domestic violence homicide, suspect in custody Canton murder latest in a pattern of deadly domestic violence

Genavieve Kowalski, a domestic violence survivor, knows firsthand the critical role these organizations play in saving lives.

"If it weren't for First Step, my family, I wouldn't be here today. We were abused for 17 years. My mom, for even longer than that," Kowalski said. "We had advocates there that left and right were making sure we were getting exactly what we needed from food, if we needed housing."

Services at risk include crisis hotlines, shelters

Jeni Hooper, interim executive director of First Step, which supports victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, warned that reduced funding could have deadly consequences.

"Unfortunately, what is going to happen is if there is no services to even meet the need to help survivors, then we're going to also see an increase in those types of lethal assaults," Hooper said.

If the funding is cut, First Step says it will impact services to help survivors navigate the court system, their 24-hour crisis hotline, and their emergency shelter services.

"We all know across the state, across the country, beds are limited. And when somebody is able to find an opening and in the rare moments we are able to make those things happen, that is just a matter of life and death sometimes," Hooper said.

FULL INTERVIEW: Jeni Hooper, interim executive director of First Step, talks about her organization and funding FULL INTERVIEW: Jeni Hooper, interim executive director of First Step, talks about her organization and fundingBudget battle over funding priorities

Hooper is urging lawmakers to set aside $50 to $75 million in the budget for nonprofits like First Step. The state House budget sets aside $26 million, $4 million less than what was approved in last year's budget.

Senator Jeremy Moss, a Democrat, criticized the proposed cuts.

"It is shameful and pitiful that House Republicans are proposing to gut millions of dollars in funding for nonprofits that provide critical services for children and adults whose lives are quite literally in jeopardy," Moss said. "From emergency shelter and crisis hotlines to legal advocacy and counseling services, these programs provide a lifeline for survivors of abuse and human trafficking and House Republicans want to run them into the ground and force them to close their doors. This is not just unconscionable and unethical its a matter of life or death, and Senate Democrats will not stand for it.

State House Republican John Roth defended the budget allocation, saying it redirects rather than cuts funding.

"The House budget puts a bigger emphasis on helping children that's not a cut. Our plan moves $4 million in funding from nonprofits to existing advocacy centers, which have a long history of working with victims of crime," Roth said. "Our budget also includes $1.5 million in new funding for crime victims through the creation of the Public Safety Trust Fund. The funding may not look the same this year, but House Republicans are putting law enforcement and crime victims first in our budget planning."

Kowalski urged lawmakers to listen to survivors when making budget decisions.

"I pray that our state legislature really listen to survivors and listen to people who use the services and know how incredible and how much of a lifeline they are to survivors," Kowalski said.

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.

Canton police are investigating a domestic violence-related homicide that occurred Monday in a subdivision near Canton Center and Cherry Hill Road, marking the latest in a troubling series of domestic violence incidents across the region in recent weeks.

Watch Randy Wimbley's video report: Canton murder latest in a pattern of deadly domestic violence

The 30-year-old victim was found deceased in her bedroom after dispatchers received a call Monday afternoon reporting she was not breathing. A suspect is now in custody, though police have not disclosed the relationship between the victim and suspect.

"They ended up finding a female individual deceased in her bedroom," said Sgt. Jeff Zajac. "I can tell you there was no immediate weapons used that were on scene."

Neighbors report disturbance night before

Neighbors in the quiet Canton subdivision expressed shock at the violence that occurred in their community.

"It's just so sad, it's just so terrible. I mean, I can't imagine being in the family's shoes. It's really tough," said Miriam Dawwas, who lives two doors from the victim's home.

Venkat Mada, who lives across the street from the home, said there was a commotion the night before police discovered the victim's body.

"From the neighborhood, from behind the houses, they saw some shouting, they heard some shouting during the night," Mada said.

Police describe the situation as a domestic assault and say they had no warning signs there was trouble at the home.

"Even though there may have been something yesterday that we find in our investigation that really pushed this individual over the edge, it's realistic to understand that this is stuff that's probably trauma and abuse that goes on for many months before it gets to this point," Zajac said.

Part of a troubling regional trend

The Canton incident is the latest in a string of domestic violence cases in recent weeks. A 40-year-old woman is accused of killing her 23-year-old boyfriend, Chase Hunter Hoyt. 20-year-old Sarah Carroll was killed in a murder-suicide in Westland. Mario Green is facing charges for allegedly shooting and killing his ex-wife, Latricia Green, at Henry Ford Hospital.

Audriana Buchanan-Cronk from First Step, a nonprofit that serves domestic violence victims, said the frequency of these cases is alarming.

"The unfortunate reality is First Step is waking up nearly every day of someone losing their lives," Buchanan-Cronk said.

"To really get to this, we need to start encouraging space for survivors to talk about these things, calling offenders about their behavior, and holding them accountable," Buchanan-Cronk said.

The suspect remains in custody, and police say he will likely be formally charged in the coming days.

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.

Federal and state lawmakers are seeking answers from Michigan Department of Corrections officials after meeting about concerning conditions at the state's only women's prison, where inmates report pervasive black mold and denied medical treatment.

Watch Randy Wimbley's video report: Lawmakers demand answers on reported mold issue at Michigan women's prison

Congresswoman Debbie Dingell described her meeting with corrections officials as "important" and "intense" after visiting Women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility, where she and others met with Krystal Clark, who supporters say is suffering from mold-related illnesses.

"We want to make sure that people are living in healthy conditions and getting the medical care that they need," Dingell said. "I want to make sure that the prisoners are getting all of the medical care they should be getting and that we have all of the facts."

Dingell left the facility with concerns and questions after meeting MDOC officials and Clark, who, according to an infectious disease physician, showed signs of aspergillosis, a fungal infection caused by mold. State Rep. Donavan McKinney said he could see signs of the condition in Clark's ears.

According to the National Institutes of Health, aspergillosis, in rare cases, can lead to facial palsy. Tyronda Clark, Krystal's sister, fears the worst.

Extended interview: Tyronda Clark talks about her sister's health in the Women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility Extended interview: Tyronda Clark talks about her sister's health in the Women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility

"Honestly, my biggest fear is that she won't make it out of there alive, that we won't be able to get her the adequate help that she needs so she can be out here for her children and at least spend some time with her grandchildren," Tyronda Clark said.

Federal judge calls prison "infested with mold"

The conditions at the prison are the subject of an ongoing legal battle in which a court recently rejected MDOC's defense of qualified immunity.

A federal judge stated, "Huron Valley is infested with mold. The mold eats through bricks and door frames. It drips off the ceiling. It falls out of air vents. It bubbles and bursts through paint. And it leads to a parade of horrible medical conditions respiratory infections, wheezing, skin rashes, etc."

MDOC provided a statement saying in part: "Routine inspections of all MDOC facilities regularly take place. In the event that dangerous or hazardous conditions are found, they are addressed in a timely manner."

Civil rights lawyer Cary McGehee, who represents the women who sued MDOC in 2019 over conditions at the prison, disputed the department's claims.

"Words are cheap. The evidence says otherwise. And even their most recent physical assessment plant report says otherwise," McGehee said. "This report reflects that their inspections show the HVAC system needs to be replaced and there's a lack of sufficient ventilation in the bathrooms and the showers, and that mold is thriving as a result."

Lawmakers vow continued oversight

The legislators say the meeting with MDOC won't be their last. They still have unanswered questions about the mold issue.

"We want to make sure that it's remediated across the board in that facility," said State Rep. Donavan McKinney.

"One of the follow-ups we have is, have you ever had someone from the outside come in and do some testing? What was that result, and what are you doing now? And they said they would follow up with us on that," said State Rep. Jimmie Wilson Jr.

MDOC Statement:

The Michigan Department of Corrections is committed to the health and safety of those under our supervision and those employed by the department. Routine inspections of all MDOC facilities regularly take place. In the event that dangerous or hazardous conditions are found, they are addressed in a timely manner. We take the health care of incarcerated individuals very seriously and provide a consistent community standard of care which includes access to onsite medical staff, outside specialists when needed, and quality medications and medical equipment. Due to health privacy laws, MDOC cannot provide information on the health or medical condition of any specific person without their written consent. In addition, due to active litigation, the department declines to provide additional comment on allegations brought forth on Womens Huron Valley Correctional Facility and all parties listed in that lawsuit. The department continues to support its mission of holding offenders accountable while promoting their success. That success includes supporting health and behavioral health care for those under our supervision. Through a variety of programs and services, including quality medical checks, thought process intervention, substance abuse treatment, education, skilled trades training, and employment readiness, the department prepares those housed in our facilities for a successful reentry into our communities.

An independent investigation has substantiated multiple allegations against Hamtramck Police Chief Jamiel Altaheri, including driving a city vehicle after drinking alcohol and pressuring officers to help in a custody dispute.

Watch video reports from Randy Wimbley and Brittany Toolis: Investigation finds Hamtramck police chief violated policies Investigation finds Hamtramck police chief violated policies

The city reportedly paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for the investigation after a memo from a city employee began circulating, alleging the chief acted improperly on several occasions and may have broken the law.

The investigation, conducted by law firm Miller Johnson, combed through more than half a million documents and included about 40 witness interviews. The findings were released Sunday.

Report released into Hamtramck misconduct report by WXYZ-TV Channel 7 Detroit

Substantiated allegations against chief

The investigation found several allegations against Altaheri to be true, including:

Driving a city vehicle after drinking alcohol Pressuring officers to help in a custody dispute Handing a loaded gun to a civilian volunteer and instructing them to put it to someone's head

Residents are calling for immediate action from city leadership.

"I would get fired if I worked like that at my job, doing side deals and took people's safety lightly. I wouldn't have a job," said Tracy Pilcher.

Mark Armand said city leaders need to step up.

"Do what's right for the city. If somebody did all those things they are accused of, then they shouldn't be in charge of anybody," Armand said.

Other officials investigated

The report also examined allegations against Officer David Adamczyk and City Manager Max Garbarino. All three officials are currently on administrative leave.

PREVIOUS REPORT: Whistleblower lawsuit filed against Hamtramck city leaders details alleged corruption Whistleblower lawsuit filed against Hamtramck city leaders detail alleged corruption

The investigation found Adamczyk committed overtime abuse and violated policies regarding stolen property, among other violations.

Regarding Garbarino, the investigation largely did not substantiate the initial allegations against him, but found he exercised poor judgment in his role as city manager, including delaying addressing allegations of misconduct by Altaheri and Adamczyk.

Garbarino told me by phone he would have taken action sooner, but claims Mayor Amer Ghalib told him he had no authority to do so.

"Max was just doing his job. He was a whistleblower, and he came out and did his job, and he shouldn't have been suspended," Armand said.

City officials decline comment

The report was posted on the city's website and taken down soon after, but not before 7 News Detroit downloaded the document.

I reached out to the city's mayor and every member of the city council for comment, but received no responses. I also reached out to Hamtramck's police chief, but have not yet heard back.

The report's findings are set to be discussed at Tuesday's city council meeting.

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.

Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison says many of the recent shootings plaguing the city are gang-related, prompting law enforcement to execute raids while community leaders work to get young people off the streets.

Watch Randy's full story in the video player below: Detroit police target gang violence with raids as community leaders urge change

The raids occurred Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Several shootings have occurred on Detroit's east side, and some impacted innocent bystanders.

"We got a lot of high-powered weapons off the street, I'm talking ARs, assault rifles, revolvers, shotguns, etc," Bettison said. "Going after groups and gangs that are causing violence in the city."

Related Video: Detroit police execute 11 search warrants, recover 40+ weapons in violence crackdown Detroit police execute 11 search warrants, recover 40+ weapons in violence crackdownCommunity exhausted by violence

Ray Winans, a community leader and former gang member with the CVI Group Detroit Friends and Family, said residents are fed up with the ongoing violence.

"The community is tired, man. The community is tired. PeopleI'm tired of going to funerals. I got two funerals this week," Winans said.

Winans works to reduce violence by helping young men who want to leave street life. His organization delivers a clear message to those involved in gang activity.

FULL INTERVIEW: Community leader Ray Winans talks about violence in Detroit FULL INTERVIEW: Community leader Ray Winans talks about violence in Detroit

"Bro, either you're going to roll with the community or you're going to get rolled over by this d*** law enforcement agency," Winans said.

Gang structure differs from other cities

Former FBI agent and Detroit Crime Commission boss Andy Arena said gangs have always existed in Detroit, but operate differently than in other major cities.

"Gangs have always been in Detroit," Arena said. "There's less structure with gangs in Detroit than they are in LA or Chicago."

Arena explained that the lack of structure contributes to innocent people getting hurt.

"Gangs are not like FBI agents: they're not qualifying with the firearms eight times a year, right, they go out there and they're gonna start spraying right, so that's when you get the collateral damage," Arena said.

Former gang members working for change

Winans is working alongside men like Kurteiz Thompson, a former Vice Lord who spent years in federal prison on a RICO conviction and now helps shooters and gang members leave the lifestyle.

"If you looking for change man, it's time man, because here in the next few weeks, the next few months, it might be too late," Thompson said.

Winans warned that more law enforcement action is coming.

"Did you see what Bettison said? D*** the raids. He said indictments is coming, man," Winans said.

Innocent victims caught in crossfire

For people like Tarhesha Love, justice cannot come soon enough. Her 6-year-old son Rylee was struck by a stray bullet during a drive-by shooting earlier this month.

Related Story: Mom of boy killed by stray bullet in Detroit speaks out 'I hope they get life.' Mom of boy killed by stray bullet in Detroit speaks out

"This whole summer, that's all you hear is babies dying," Love said. "Karma is coming. Karma is coming."

Police are still investigating several high-profile shootings. Anyone with information is asked to call Detroit Police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.

EXTENDED INTERVIEW: Tarhesha Love talks about losing her son to gun violence EXTENDED INTERVIEW: Tarhesha Love talks about losing her son to gun violence

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.

The Detroit Police Athletic League has suspended the Eastside Colts youth sports organization for one year following an altercation between coaches and a referee at a fundraising game.

The incident occurred at a non-PAL-sanctioned 12-and-under game nearly two weeks ago in Warren, where tempers flared as coaches from the Eastside Colts got into a confrontation with a referee.

Related Story: Detroit youth football coaches, referee suspended after altercation at benefit game Detroit youth football coaches, referee suspended after altercation at benefit game

Bobby Christian, president of the Eastside Colts, said the punishment is too severe and will ultimately hurt children who had nothing to do with the incident.

"PAL is a great organization, the only issue I have with PAL is we never fault children for adult matters," Christian said.

Christian acknowledged his coaches were wrong and said he suspended them personally after the incident.

Extended interview: President of Eastside Colts football team talks about the fallout after on-field incident WEb Extra: President of the Eastside Colts football team talks about the fallout after on-field incident

"My coaches are completely wrong. I suspended them myself. I suspended them personally. You guys are done. They're completely wrong, but I'm not sure how many times you can poke a person before they black out," Christian said.

Christian alleged the referee used inappropriate language during the game.

"What was this referee doing? A lot of things you can't say on TV," Christian said. "You B this. You A that. I'll kill you this."

PAL enforces zero-tolerance policy

Detroit PAL initially handed out indefinite suspensions for the coaches and referee involved. The organization has now expanded the punishment to include the entire Eastside Colts organization, which includes both football and cheer teams.

In a statement, Detroit PAL said:

"Detroit PAL is committed to ensuring that every child who participates in our programs has a safe, positive, and fun experience on and off the field. Following a recent incident at an unsanctioned football game involving a PAL team, Detroit PAL conducted a thorough review. As a result of that investigation, the team involved has been suspended from participation in PAL programming for one year.In addition, Detroit PAL has reiterated to all coaches, referees, players, and families that we are strictly enforcing a zero-tolerance policy regarding fighting and poor sportsmanship. These measures are necessary to uphold the values of respect, teamwork, and integrity that are central to our mission.Our priority will always be to protect our young athletes and provide them with a supportive environment to grow, learn, and enjoy the game."Impact on young athletes

The suspension has already affected other teams within the organization. Rachelle Copeland, an Eastside Colts mom and cheer coach, said her team was unable to participate in a cheer jamboree.

"We were supposed to do a cheer jamboree that was just this past Sunday and we couldn't participate," Copeland said. "My girls are suffering from that and a lot of my girls, this is the only thing that they really have that's fun, something that's structured, something that brings positivity to them."

Related Video: Altercation unfolds between coaches and referee at youth football game WEB VIDEO: Altercation between coaches and referee at youth football game

Christian argued the punishment should have been limited to the coaches of the 12-and-under team involved in the incident.

"Canceling the 12U coaches or maybe even the 12U completely would've been warranted, but canceling a 6U, a 8U, a 10U, a 13U, a 14U that wasn't even there, that didn't even know what was going on? That's completely unfair. And they told me they weren't going to do that," Christian said.

However, other PAL parents support the organization's decision. Kenthia Morton said a line has to be drawn.

"They have to take a stand somewhere, to let it know it's not going to be tolerated. Unfortunately, it involves kids, but kids can ... switch over to a different team," Morton said.

Christian says he's already lost roughly 50 players. He plans to appeal PAL's decision but admits he's not sure if that effort will be successful.

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.

Police have two persons of interest in custody in connection with the death of 15-year-old Lawrence Dowl, whose body was discovered in a Detroit cemetery last week.

Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison confirmed both individuals are adults who knew Lawrence.

"We do have two persons of interest in custody," Bettison said.

Watch the video report below: Two persons of interest in custody after teen found dead in Detroit cemetery

The teen's body was found a day after he was reported missing. According to police, one of the persons of interest turned himself in to another police agency on an unrelated case, while Detroit officers arrested the other the weekend.

Dowl was last seen last Tuesday when one of his friends, who is approximately 22 years old, picked him up to go to the store. The teen never returned home.

Previous coverage: Family seeks answers after 15-year-old found dead in Detroit cemetery Family seeks answers after 15-year-old found dead in Detroit cemetery

When officers discovered Dowl's body, he was wearing a ski mask and gloves, which Bettison suggested might indicate the teen was involved in questionable behavior.

"We've received numerous tips from the community basically telling me about his background and what he does and what he did do. I don't want to disclose that or disparage because he is a teen. I hold the adults responsible," Bettison said.

Hear more from Chief Todd Bettison below: DPD chief provides update on teen found dead in cemetery

Dowl's sister believes something may have gone wrong during his outing with older individuals.

"I honestly feel like maybe the guys bribed him to do something, to go do something and then it went bad. Or maybe they was lying, telling him they was gonna go do something and was really trying to do something to him. And for what reason, I wouldn't know," she said.

The teen's family described themselves as angry and devastated, saying news of people in custody provides little comfort as they seek answers about what happened to Lawrence.

Previous coverage: Body of missing 15-year-old boy found inside Detroit cemetery, homicide team investigating Body of missing 15-year-old boy found inside Detroit cemetery, homicide team investigating

This case comes as Detroit police crack down on violent crime that has made headlines this summer. The department is working with U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon, who is assigning more prosecutors to gun crime and gang violence cases in Detroit. The feds recently unsealed eight felony firearm cases amid the crackdown.

Bettison urged parents to be more vigilant about their children's activities.

"We've already increased the fee schedule for parental responsibility tickets, but know where your kids are. But not only know where they are, know who they're hanging with," Bettison said.

Previous coverage: Parental fines increased, curfew violations decriminalized by city of Detroit Detroit City Council passes new curfew ordinance

Detroit police are currently working to send a warrant request to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office for the persons of interest in Lawrence's death.

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.