Denez Dupree

Denez Dupree, a 43-year-old Black man, was a familiar face around the Clark gas station at the intersection of Dexter and Collingwood on Detroit’s west side. Employees at the station knew him and said he never caused any trouble. He would sometimes panhandle or offer to pump gas for customers in exchange for change.

On the morning of October 3, 2021, around 7:30 a.m., Dupree had a brief and seemingly friendly conversation with a young man who gave him some money. Police said the man started to walk away, but then began walking in circles before approaching Dupree a second time. He then pulled out a gun and shot Dupree once in the head before fleeing the scene. First responders found Dupree on the ground outside the gas station door and pronounced him dead.

The killing, which Detroit police described as a "random execution," outraged the community. Activist Malik Shabazz organized a group to pass out flyers with the suspect's photo, urging residents to help identify the gunman. "This homeless man's life matters, too," Shabazz said after speaking with Dupree's family. Police Chief James White later credited these community efforts for generating the tip that directly led to an arrest.

On October 14, 2021, Detroit police arrested 19-year-old Christopher Calvin Williams. The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office charged him with one count of first-degree murder and one count of felony firearm. Prosecutor Kym Worthy called the case "heartbreaking," stating, "It is hard to fathom what we have come to as a society. The allegations in this case illustrate that life can be lost randomly for senseless reasons."

The case concluded when Christopher Williams pleaded guilty to a charge of second-degree murder. For the killing of Denez Dupree, he was sentenced to serve 15 to 30 years in prison.