Detroit man charged in 3 murders, 5 shootings in 2022, pleads guilty
Dontae Ramon Smith, 19, is charged with the random murders of two women and a man in a shooting spree on Sunday.
FOX 2 - The Detroit man suspected of killing three people while wounding a fourth and his dog in August, 2022 has entered a guilty plea.
Dontae Smith has pleaded guilty in the 2022 shooting spree he committed in August of that year, when he was 19 years old. The shootings took place in the area of Wyoming, near Seven Mile in the early hours on Aug. 28. One man and his dog were both shot and survived.
On Wednesday, Defendant Smith pleaded guilty but mentally ill to three counts of second-degree murder, one count of assault with intent to murder, one count of animals – killing/torturing, and five counts of felony firearm.
Smith's sentence agreement is for 28 to 50 years in the Michigan Department of Corrections. His sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 28.
Smith's shooting victims were:
- Chayne Lewis Lee, 28, of Detroit
- Location:19880 block of Wyoming at 4:45 a.m.
"It is alleged that Defendant Smith shot Mr. Lee multiple times, and when he fell to the ground Smith continued to shoot the Mr. Smith. His lifeless body was discovered lying in the doorway of a church by Detroit police officers. It is alleged that the defendant walked away from the scene," the prosecutor's office said.
- Jane Doe
- Location: Wyoming and Margareta at 5:23 a.m.
Detroit police officers responded to a location where a resident heard multiple shots fired and observed a male in dark clothing with a slender build walking east on Margareta Street. The body of a woman was observed with multiple gunshot wounds.
- Lari Brisco, 43, of Detroit
- Location: 19790 block of Livernois at 6:53 a.m.
Detroit police officers responded to the scene of a shooting of a female victim later identified as Lari Brisco. Medics pronounced her deceased at the scene. It is alleged that Defendant Smith shot her multiple times and left the scene.
- John Palik, 76, of Detroit
- Location: Home on Pennington at 7:08 a.m.
Detroit police responded to a home on Pennington for shots fired. It is alleged that Mr. Palik was shot in the leg, and his dog was shot in the foot by Defendant Smith. Mr. Palik was taken to a local hospital where he received treatment. He and his dog survived the attack.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy called the shooting spree a reign of real terror for the residents of northwest Detroit that morning.