FLINT, MI – Victims and witnesses from a shooting at Flint’s Broome Park in August 2021 recounted Friday the early-morning events that left two teens dead and four others injured.
They described jumping to dodge bullets from a gunman they couldn’t see and recounted hearing screams as a large gathering of people ran to their vehicles, hurriedly trying to leave the area.
“I saw the sparks at my feet and I started jumping and running,” testified Kaitlyn Curtis, one of the six people shot. “And then as soon as I hit the ground I was shot.”
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In addition to Curtis’ testimony, Nathaniel Hubbard told the court he remembered seeing people running, screaming and blood on the back of vehicles.
Elijah Murray spoke about taking his shirt off to wrap it around his bleeding leg after being shot. The bullet has never been removed.
As each of them spoke, Breon Keyshawn Walters, the 19-year-old man accused in the shooting sat silently while leaning back in a chair.
Read more: 18-year-old charged with murder of 2 teens in shooting at Flint park
Walters on Friday, Aug. 19, appeared before Genesee County District Judge William H. Crawford for a preliminary examination on two felony counts of first-degree premeditated murder, four counts of assault with intent to murder, six counts of felony firearm, and single counts of carrying a concealed weapon and malicious destruction of property.
Walters is accused of killing Elvin Hollinger II, 19, and Alyssa McMahon, 18, and wounding four others, including Curtis and Murray. Danario Lancaster had a gunshot wound to the left arm. Marvius Davis was shot in the back.
Following testimony from six witnesses, a group that included two shooting victims, two witnesses and two police officers, Crawford ruled there was enough evidence to suggest Walters had committed 12 of the crimes, binding him over to circuit court on all but the concealed weapon and malicious destruction of property charges.
Curtis was the first witness called to testify by Genesee County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Sam Fleet. Curtis, 18 at the time of the shooting, said she had gone to Broome Park in Flint for a party that had been advertised on Snapchat.
She said she arrived at the party about 11:30 p.m. and described the scene as a typical outdoor party setting: vehicles parked, groups of people massed and music blasting.
Curtis said she went to the front of her vehicle when she saw sparks at her feet. She then recalled hearing about five gunshots.
She didn’t immediately feel pain from the gunshot wound to her right leg because of the adrenaline that came with jumping and running, trying to dodge the bullets flying in her direction.
“I remember someone screaming for help (and saying), ‘Call 911,’” Curtis said.
She called 911. A dispatcher told her to apply a tourniquet to her leg, and with the help of a couple of friends she did that. She’d eventually be taken to Hurley Medical Center for treatment.
Curtis said she never saw a gun or the shooter, but she did see a vehicle drive off following the one barrage of bullets.
Another witness, whom MLive-The Flint Journal is not identifying because they are a minor, testified that they drove Walters, who they referred to by the street name “Nine,” to Broome Park.
The girl was at the party early in the night but left to give Walters a gas ride to Broome Park, meaning he would pay her for gas and the ride. She said that she picked him up from Kings Lane Apartments in Burton and that he carried a rifle into the vehicle when he got in.
When the car, occupied by one other person as well, got to Broome Park, the girl testified that she saw sparks and noticed Walters shooting out the passenger side door. She said she saw people hitting the ground, blood and less than a minute later, Walters was back inside the vehicle telling her to drive away normally, not to draw suspicion.
Also: ‘Put the guns down,’ mother pleads as crowd mourns 19-year-old Flint shooting victim
James Piazza, the attorney for Walters, questioned the girl’s ability to identify Walters. He noted it was dark, that the shooter was seated behind her, and asked the girl whether she and the shooter spoke at all to and from Broome Park. She said they didn’t.
When asked by Fleet how she related Walters to the shooting, the witness began to say her knowledge was based on rumors she had heard stating he was the shooter.
After dropping Walters back off at the back of Kings Lane Apartments, the girl returned to the Broome Park area to pick up a friend. They were pulled over shortly after, and she said she initially told police she wasn’t at the park before changing her statement.
Michigan State Police D/Tpr. Christopher Kane testified that when he arrived at the scene around 2 a.m. he found spent shell casings and a cell phone. The phone belonged to Walters and had his fingerprints on it, he said.
Now that his case is in circuit court, Walters can either proceed to trial, plead as charged or accept a potential plea offer from prosecutors.
Walters remains jailed without bond.
Read more at The Flint Journal:
Former Burton cop pays back over $3,000 to city as part of plea
2 bound over for trial in July 2021 homicide on Flint’s north side
Drag race turns into police chase with vehicle traveling 150 mph, police say
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