Rayshawn Bryant tried to stop a fight during a tailgate party at Eastern Market Sunday and was fatally shot by a single bullet that also killed another man, the city’s police chief said Tuesday.
“From all accounts, (Bryant) was a hero who was just trying to break up a fight, and instead of someone getting a black eye and having a story to tell later on, because some idiot brought a gun to a tailgate party, two people are dead,” Detroit Police Chief James White said of the double homicide that occurred at about 4:30 p.m. at Shed 6 on Riopelle Street. where thousands of people were gathered for a tailgate event following a Detroit Lions game at nearby Ford Field.
An Oak Park man was arrested by officers who heard the single gunshot while a working a post-Lions game traffic detail nearby, White said.
A GoFundMe campaign fundraising funeral arrangement costs and money for Bryant’s children had raised $11,703 as of 2:45 p.m. Tuesday.
An Oak Park man was arrested by officers who heard the single gunshot while a working a post-Lions game traffic detail nearby, White said.
“He was loved by many and was well known in the city of Detroit,” campaign organizer Charlotte Coleman wrote on the fundraising website. “He loved his family leaving behind 2 sons, 2 daughters, and a tribe of siblings, cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and parents.”
GoFundMe verified the fundraiser will be directing funds to Bryant’s family, a GoFundMe representative said on Tuesday.
Only one shot was fired, which White said “logically tells you the bullet must’ve passed through the first victim and hit (Bryant), although we haven’t officially heard back from the (Wayne County) medical examiner.”
Detroit police officials said a warrant request has been submitted to prosecutors. A spokeswoman for the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office did not immediately return an email.
White said he’s waiting to hear from Eastern Market officials about a security plan moving forward.
“They have a couple of weeks before there’s another home game, so I’m sure they’re putting something together, although we haven’t heard from them yet,” White said.
Eastern Market is private property, and White said the area has not been designated as a gun-free zone.
“If they decide on doing that, we’ll put the same measures in place that we do for gun-free zones at private events or the fireworks at Hart Plaza, or when we patrol the high school sports events,” White said. “Whatever they want to do, we’ll offer our support.”
Eastern Market officials did not immediately return an email seeking comment.