Authorities in Detroit said a 20-year-old woman was fatally shot by a gunman who mistakenly identified the car she was driving. According to ClickOnDetroit, police said the car, which was being driven by Ciera Wells, was similar to the intended target’s vehicle.
The gunman, identified as 19-year-old Marion Johnson, has since been arrested. He faces a slew of charges including first-degree murder, two counts of assault with intent to murder, and three felony firearm violations.
The Monday incident occurred while Wells was driving to a store to buy fruit, FOX 2 reported. The deceased victim was also in the company of her mother and 11-year-old sister.
Police said Johnson opened fire on the vehicle from his nearby residence. Authorities were eventually able to link the suspect to the shooting through Shot Spotter technology.
“There was an incident that occurred prior in the day involving a vehicle similar, nothing to do with our victims, and our offender, for whatever reason decided to get retribution for that incident with a use of a high-powered rifle,” Detroit Police Cmdr. Michael McGinnis said. “That could have been anyone.”
Wells was struck in the back. “We were driving, and I heard gunshots and I ducked down,” Wells’ mother, Yquirra Wells, recalled. “That’s when Ciera said, ‘Mom, I’ve been shot.'”
The victim turned 20 the day before she was fatally shot. “She had so much life to live, her whole life ahead of her,” Yquitta Wells said.
At his arraignment, however, a lawyer representing Johnson argued the suspect’s intended targets were a group of men who were trying to jump him.
“What rationale or reasoning does that give for the allegations that Mr. Johnson to fire numerous shots in an occupied vehicle with three young women?” Magistrate Jeffery Kleparek questioned.
Johnson is being held without bail. “People need to stop using guns to resolve issues they have with others,” McGinnis said.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help raise funds for Wells’ funeral.
