Southfield police, family shell-shocked by grandson's alleged murder of grandmother

Man arrested in murder of his grandmother in Southfield

While the family struggles to come to grips with the tragedy, police say the suspect is not cooperating with the investigation.

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (FOX 2) - Family to an elderly woman who was found shot dead in her Southfield apartment last week were left confused and despondent following reports the alleged gunman was her 23-year-old grandson.

"It's like a nightmare," said Courtney Mack, the daughter-in-law to Margaret Mack who found by police last week. "We don't know if it was mental issues. We don't know if something took over him because they never argued and she loved him dearly."

Courtney and several other family members were in attendance at the Southfield Police Department Tuesday morning.

She, along with cousins, sons, and grandkids expressed bewilderment at the reported shooting of Margaret by her grandson Desjuan Tyree-Anthony Mack. He was charged with murder and felony firearm in the deadly shooting.

The Southfield Police chief expressed confusion as well as to the details of the case.

Desjuan Tyree-Anthony Mack

"It makes no sense why a 23-year-old would harm their own grandparent who this family described as a loving grandmother that did everything a great grandmother could do for them," Chief Elvin Barren said.

According to Southfield police, Desjuan Mack called 911 Thursday night after discovering the victim was unresponsive and "cold to the touch." While police arrived originally expecting to perform a wellness check, they quickly realized the caller had given conflicting reports.

Desjuan originally told police the victim was a family friend. That information changed to him identifying the victim as his adoptive grandmother. Police later discerned he was her biological grandchild.

Barren said police typically see behavior like that when the suspect is trying to distance themselves from the situation.

After police put together details, they arrested Desjuan. They also located a firearm that was reported to be stolen out of Farmington Hills in 2018. Tests with the firearm determined it was used in the shooting at Legacy Place Apartments on March 24 where the 73-year-old was found.

Desjuan was arraigned on charges in the 46th District Court.

While the suspect did have one prior charge for domestic violence in 2020, the circumstances around the shooting remain a mystery to family and police since Desjuan was described as having a good relationship with his grandmother.

"She's just going to be truly missed," said Courtney Mack.

Dajon Sturges, a cousin to the suspect, said when Desjuan left for college, he and his brother were straight-A students. But when the suspect came home, something had changed.

"He went to college and being where he's from, I guess he started experimenting or whatever the case may be or however it happened - he never returned back right," said Sturges.

Courtney Mack said Desjuan's dad Eric - the youngest son of Margaret Mack - was recovering in the hospital when he learned the news. He had been on a ventilator at a hospital in Ann Arbor and Margaret Mack had stayed at the nearby hotel to care for him.

Courtney Mack, the daughter-in-law to the victim.

"Before he was in the ICU, he was on a ventilator and she had to stay up there for a full week," said Courtney, who said he had called to tell her to check on his mom since they spoke everyday and she hadn't responded recently.

"He was like ‘go, go check on mama. She ain’t called me.' That's how much I'm trying to say that she was with him and talked to him," said Courtney. "Luckily, he took it pretty good…to have to tell someone that your mother is gone and that your own son did it?"

"It's mind-boggling that someone that close, that loved you - that's why, it's like…."

Desjuan is expected to be back in court on April 7.

Crime and Public Safety Southfield