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News Updates - Week of November 5 - 11, 2017
NEWS UPDATES*
Tuesday, November 7, 2017
O'Reilly Auto Store Homicide - WCPO has received a warrant request in connection with the November 1, 2017 homicide of James Haller at an O'Reilly Auto Parts Store in the 16800 block of Schaefer in Detroit. WCPO is beginning the review process and a charging decision will not be made before the 10:30 a.m. arraignment time in 36th District Court. When a charging decision has been made a press release will be sent out.
Wednesday, November 8, 2017
O'Reilly Auto Store Homicide - WCPO has received a warrant request in connection with the November 1, 2017 homicide of James Haller at an O'Reilly Auto Parts Store in the 16800 block of Schaefer in Detroit. WCPO is continuing the review process and there will not be an arraignment today. When a charging decision has been made a press release will be sent out.
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Dearborn Heights Officer Charged in Fatal Car Crash
On July 14, 2017, Prosecutor Kym Worthy charged Dearborn Heights police officer Larry A. Little, 32, with a misdemeanor warrant for Moving Violation Causing Death in connection with a fatal car crash. On January 1, 2017 at approximately 8:20 p.m., Little was on duty, driving a marked police car with his partner riding in the passenger seat. It is alleged that, at the intersection of Van Born and Pelham Roads, Little was travelling at high rate of speed in a 40 mile per hour zone. It is further alleged that the police vehicle's overhead headlights were off and the siren was not activated when Little broadsided the car of Timothy Lee Turner, 59, of Wixom. The victim died from injuries sustained in the car crash. The intersection of Van Born and Pelham Roads borders Taylor, Dearborn Heights and Allen Park. The Dearborn Heights Police Department requested assistance with the investigation of the crash scene from Allen Park officers. The investigation was subsequently turned over to the Michigan State Police Department.
On September 11, 2017, the defense filed a Motion to Dismiss the misdemeanor charge which was heard before Judge Geno Salomone. On October 30, 2017, the court denied the motion to dismiss, and ruled that the act of running the police car without overhead lights and a siren should be assessed under a reckless standard rather than negligence standard. WCPO represented to the court that the charges would be amended to reflect the reckless standard, but the court requested that a new warrant be issued.
On Tuesday, November 7, 2017, Prosecutor Worthy issued a new warrant charging Little with Reckless Driving Causing Death, a felony with a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.* He will be processed and arraigned on Monday, November 13, 2017 at 8:30 in 23rd District Court in Taylor. After the arraignment on the new charge, the misdemeanor charge will be dismissed. Little is represented by attorney Chris Tomasi.
Little was arraigned on November 13, 2017 before 23rd District Court Judge Joseph Slaven. The probable cause conference is scheduled for November 20, 2017 at 8:30 a.m.; the preliminary examination is scheduled for November 27, 2017 at 8:30 a.m. Both hearings are before Judge Slaven in 23rd District Court.
*The charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Thursday, November 9, 2017
Raymond Durham - Defendant charged in the November 22, 2016 fatal shooting of Sgt. Collin Rose. He is also charged in the March 15, 2017 non-fatal shootings of two Detroit Police Officers in Detroit. Today Durham had his Competency Hearing before Judge Kenneth King. The Forensic Center found Durham to be incompetent to stand trial. WCPO requested that Durham be evaluated by an independent expert on the issue of competency. The court asked WCPO to file a brief on the issue by Friday, November 17, 2017, and the defense to file their brief on December 1, 2017. The court date for the argument on the issue is scheduled for December 8, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. The next competency review date is scheduled for February 9, 2018.
Two Charged in O'Reilly Auto Parts Store Homicide
Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged Shawnta Sharee Anderson, 23 (DOB: 05/29/1994), and Leviticus Vinson Butler, 38, (DOB: 11/09/1978), both of Detroit, in connection with the homicide of the O'Reilly Auto Parts store manager, James Haller, 69, of Detroit.
Allegations Against Anderson and Butler
On November 1, 2017, at approximately 5:25 p.m., at an O'Reilly Auto Parts Store in the 16800 block of Schaefer in Detroit, Mr. Haller was in a back area of the store. A male and a female, employed as cashiers, were behind a counter assisting a customer in the front of the store. Defendant Anderson walked in and pointed a handgun at the male employee and ordered him on to the floor. Anderson walked around the counter to the cash register, pointed the gun at the female cashier and ordered her to open the register. As Anderson walked from behind the counter, Mr. Haller came from the back of the store and said, "Hey!" and she fired a single shot, striking him in the head. Anderson fled from the scene in an SUV. Detroit police and medics arrived at the scene shortly after the shooting and transported Mr. Haller to a local hospital for treatment. Approximately two hours later on the same day, Mr. Haller was pronounced dead.
It is alleged that after Anderson fled the scene, Butler acted as an accessory after the fact by assisting Anderson in an effort to help her escape the police. Investigation by the Detroit Police Department led to the arrests of Anderson and Butler. The case remains under investigation by the Detroit Police Department.
Charges and Arraignment Information for Anderson and Butler
Anderson is charged with one count of Felony Murder, a felony carrying a penalty of Life in Prison without Parole., two counts of Armed Robbery a felony with a maximum penalty of Life in Prison, and three counts of Felony Firearm, a felony with a two year consecutive penalty.* Butler is charged with one count of Accessory After the Fact, a felony with a maximum penalty of five years.*
Both defendants were arraigned today in 36th District Court at 2:30 p.m. Anderson was remanded to jail. Butler received a $500,000 cash bond with a provision for a tether if he is able to post bond. Both defendants will have their probable cause conferences on November 21, 2017 at 8:30 a.m. and their preliminary examinations on November 28, 2017 at 1:30 p.m. before Judge Lewis-Langston in 36th District Court.
Statement of Prosecutor Worthy
"By all accounts Mr. Haller was a valued ex-Marine, employee, police reservist, husband, and father. His death is heartbreaking. We will vigorously prosecute this case and do our very best to bring justice to Mr. Haller and his family."
*The charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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