‘Santa Claus Shooter’ is a hero, says family
Family and friends of the “Santa Claus Shooter” want to set the record straight.
They want Marcus Weldon’s name cleared of charges.
It is a case of self defense and not assault with intent to do murder – that is what the family and friends of Weldon, 26, hope prosecutors will see and act on.
On Monday those who know Weldon the best, stood side by side to clear his name at a press conference.
Weldon is out on bond after a shooting at a Detroit Speedway gas station on West Jefferson Dec. 21 that sent two men to the hospital and Weldon and his co-worker, Erica Johnson, running.
Johnson says Weldon was helping to fix her tire when she was attacked by strangers.
Then came an argument, followed by shots fired from Weldon, who was licensed to carry a concealed weapon. The pair had just left a holiday party and he was dressed as Santa.
“If something happens and you know you are being threatened, you don’t wait until you are dead to act,” Johnson said. “You turn around and run – and that’s what we did.”
Weldon’s family members say he’s a dedicated father, a man of faith, who is working two jobs. Last year he even appeared as a model on FOX 2.
Family and friends say he is not a criminal and they are not giving up.
FOX 2 did reach out to the prosecutor’s office. A spokeswoman said they plan to proceed with the case and that the charges are appropriate which is why they were brought about in the first place.
Weldon’s next court date is Thursday.
Memo warns of threats to loosen lug nuts of police vehicles
As if the roadways are not dangerous enough when covered in snow and ice, some gang members could make them even more so.
Gang members say they are plotting to remove lug nuts from police vehicles according to an administrative message from the Detroit and Southeastern Michigan Information and Intelligence Center to Detroit police.
“The idea that people would think that’s a good idea in any way actually baffles my mind,” said officer Mark Diaz, of the Detroit Police Officers Association. “This creates a very dangerous situation not just for our police officers but for the general public, When a tire comes off a car, it creates a fatal environment.”
The threat comes after the fatal ambush of New York police officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos and the deaths of Mike Brown and Eric Garner at the hands of police.
Ron Scott from Detroit’s Coalition Against Police Brutality says the threats should not in any way be tied those involved in the peaceful protests seen around the nation in recent months.
“I know the people that I work with, both the people doing civil disobedience and individuals doing different protests, are not involved in anything like this,” Scott said.
There have not been any reports of lug nuts being removed from officers cars in or around Detroit.
Officers are being reminded to check their service and personal vehicles for damage.
If you spot anyone removing lug nuts from a car that does not appear to be their own, you’re asked to call the police.
Students sent home from Detroit school due to no heat
The first day at Durfee after winter break and students are leaving school instead of going back to class – because their classrooms have no heat.
Parents like Taylor are frustrated. This isn’t the first time class has been canceled.
“Sometimes I have to bring my jacket into class because they don’t adjust the heat right,” said one student during a previous heating problem in November.
That was when Detroit Public Schools promised the problem was in the process of being fixed.
Now the first day back from break in frigid January weather and students are sent home because it’s too cold in the classroom.
A letter sent home with students says school will be back open on Tuesday.
A spokesperson for Detroit Public Schools tells FOX 2 that the facility’s management company became aware of a boiler problem on Friday but did not notify district staff.
Now both boilers are working and running for the classrooms to be warm for Tuesday.
Written by LBeasley (Lauren Beasley), Digital Producer of The Morning Heat and Sports Editor of Radio One Detroit
Keep up with the Morning Heat on Instagram and Twitter at @hiphopdetroit
Family Wants Charges Dropped In Detroit Gas Station Santa Shooting was originally published on hothiphopdetroit.com
