PONTIAC, Mich. – A dispute over spitting in a sink led to the fatal shooting of a 33-year-old man in an apartment building in Pontiac this week, according to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. The incident took place in the 200 block of Carriage Circle near Auburn Avenue.
The victim, Cornelius James Jones, was shot multiple times on Wednesday and was found unconscious in his apartment. He was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries soon after.
Witnesses informed investigators that an argument broke out between Jones and the suspects, with one of the men becoming agitated over the spitting incident and demanding the other man to leave the apartment. According to reports, Jones found the act disrespectful and confronted the individual before he was shot.
After the shooting, the two suspects fled the scene, prompting a search by authorities. One of the men was apprehended immediately, while the other suspect led deputies on a lengthy foot chase before he was also arrested. During the pursuit, the suspect discarded the gun, which was later recovered by a police canine unit.
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard expressed shock and dismay over the trivial nature of the incident, stating, “It is unfathomable that a human life would be taken for something so absurdly trivial as a person spitting in a sink.”
Both suspects are now in custody at the Oakland County Jail and are expected to face charges in court soon.
The sheriff commended the deputies for their response to the chaotic and dangerous scene, as well as for successfully apprehending an armed murderer under the cover of darkness.
The motive behind the shooting and the exact relationship between the victim and the suspects have not been disclosed by the authorities. The investigation is ongoing as the community mourns the senseless loss of life.