Mustafa Al-Yasiry, described as a Middle Eastern / Arab man, was killed on April 18, 2014, at the Big Apple Market in southwest Detroit. Investigators characterized the incident as an ambush by several members of the Latin Counts who beat and assaulted Al-Yasiry; the assault ended when a gunshot took his life.

The homicide became part of a wider federal enforcement effort in the area under a Detroit One partnership that targeted the Latin Counts and other violent offenders. A racketeering indictment named Victor Vasquez for allegedly aiding and abetting the use of a firearm during a crime of violence that caused Al-Yasiry’s death. Later a superseding indictment identified Devin Dantzler of Ecorse as the suspected triggerman, charging him with using and carrying a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence causing death and with murder in aid of racketeering; Christopher Pierce was charged with assault resulting in serious bodily injury in aid of racketeering.

Prosecutors linked the assault and shooting to the gang’s effort to intimidate and control the neighborhood, and several defendants later admitted roles tied to the killing as part of racketeering conspiracy pleas. Did anyone in the community know Mustafa or see activity around the Big Apple Market on April 18, 2014?