A man arrested in Georgia for the shooting death of an Ypsilanti Township, Michigan man broadcasting himself on Facebook live in late June has been extradited back to Michigan to face murder charges.
Additionally, two more suspects were arrested on conspiracy charges in connection with the murder.
24-year-old Shereif Bonner was extradited and arraigned on open murder charges, July 26, in connection with the shooting death of 46-year-old Terrell Smith who was shot outside a home in Ypsilanti Township June 28.
18-year-old Tyree Pitts and 26-year-old Andre Walker were also both arrested and charged with open murder in connection with the shooting.
Bond was denied for Bonner and Pitts. Bond for Walker was set at $1 million.
41-year-old Martita Bonner and 25-year-old Jermia Castion were both previously arraigned on charges of conspiracy to commit open murder and are currently lodged in the Washtenaw County Jail on $1 million bond each.
All five suspects’ cases are still pending in the Washtenaw County District Court.
Police were called at 11 a.m. June 28, to the area of Nash Avenue and Tyler Road in Ypsilanti Township’s West Willow neighborhood for multiple reports of shots fired in the area, according to the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies arrived and found one gunshot victim, Smith, who was taken to an area hospital for emergency medical treatment, police said,
Smith later succumbed to his injuries and died.
At the time of the shooting, Smith was broadcasting himself live on Facebook, police said.
Smith, under the name Rell, would routinely broadcast himself chatting with followers while riffing about Ypsilanti and whatever was on his mind, according to previous videos posted on his Facebook pages.
In the video he was broadcasting at the time of the shooting, Smith was sitting in a chair outside the home riffing about Ypsilanti before saying “we got action” and standing up from his seat.
Shortly after Smith stood up and took a few steps, a hail of gunfire can be heard for several seconds before the camera then faces the sky as it continues to broadcast and record a man calling 911.
“While Terrill streamed live from his Facebook page, the shooting was overheard/witnessed by many,” the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office said in a written statement. “Prior to being removed, the video had been shared numerous times and countless people were exposed to the reality of gun violence here in our community. Although several have been taken into custody, the investigation is ongoing. We need the assistance of our community in order to identify and apprehend the other individuals responsible.”
The shooting remains under investigation. Anyone with information can submit a tip anonymously to 734-973-7711 or provide a confidential tip to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SpeakUP.
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