Dispute over alleged stolen cell phone leads to fatal shooting of 13-year-old in Detroit

Police: Cell phone dispute led to 13-year-old's shooting death

Three of four suspects arrested are minors with the fourth just 18 in the murder of Joe Nankervis in southwest Detroit Tuesday.

DETROIT (FOX 2) - A 13-year-old was shot and killed in Detroit after a dispute escalated Tuesday night.

According to Detroit Police Commander Michael McGinnis, there was an argument over a cell phone that may have been stolen, which led to the shooting of Joe Nankervis near Homer and Mullane streets. It is unclear if the phone was actually stolen or who stole it.

"Ultimately, it was an argument over property that led to the death of one juvenile, and another juvenile is going to be taken away from his family for a very long time," McGinnis said.

Four people – an 18-year-old and three juveniles – are in custody, and police are seeking charges.

Shooting victim Joe Nankervis

McGinnis said the four people who are in custody were together when one of them killed Nankervis. The victim and suspects knew each other, police said.

"It's coming down to you have to pull out a gun and kill someone," Barbara Lopez said. "Over nonsense."

Lopez said Nankervis and her granddaughter were dating.

"I love this boy like he was my own. He was so young. So young. He had a whole life ahead of him," she said. "He was a little misguided, but he was good. There was no reason for what they did to him, no reason."