Ferndale teen in 'grave condition' after shooting at Southfield hotel

A 15-year-old Ferndale teen was on life support Monday after he was shot in the head at a Southfield hotel where youths had gathered Sunday, police said.

The teen, a student at Loyola High School in Detroit, was in grave condition, said Southfield police Chief Elvin Barren at a news conference Monday. He was "unsupervised" in the room with two friends and had been shot with a gun that was reported stolen in 2022, police said.

A 15-year-old of Detroit, who was among five teens unsupervised in the room, was taken into custody after two handguns were found in his waistband, the chief said.

Barren said he was "very troubled about this incident.'

"This is totally preventable and certainly not happy this afternoon to stand before you and this community to explain how this happened," he said.

Police and fire officials were called to The Westin at 1500 Town Center around 8:42 a.m Sunday. Officers found the teen with a gunshot wound and "lifesaving measures were initiated on scene," police said in a news release.

Barren said five teens were in the room when the shooting occurred. When police arrived, two were outside the room "possibly attempting" to flee.

One of the handguns recovered, a Glock 22 40-caliber, was reported stolen from Flint on June 5, 2022, Barren said. He said police have not determined if there is a relationship between the teens and the owner of the gun. The ownership of the second handgun, a Glock 26 9 mm, was unknown Monday, the chief said.

One 40-caliber shell casing and a 9mm extended magazine with 20 live rounds were recovered from the scene, Barren said. "We believe one of the weapons that we recovered is the weapon that was responsible for inflicting the gunshot wound to this young man," he said.

Marijuana, mushrooms and a scale also were recovered, Barren said, adding "something was happening, we just don't know what it is at this time."

According to the investigation, the teens checked in the room Saturday night after it was rented online, Barren said. Police are reviewing evidence that could connect an adult, who has been identified but whose name was not released, to securing the room for the youths and leaving them unsupervised. Video footage evidence was collected outside of the room and from the hotel lobby, the chief said.

"What was described to us is that this group of youth men get together periodically for gatherings," Barren said. "... We believe an adult rented the room and then turned the room over to the juveniles for their stay."

The chief said evidence would be submitted to the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office about what charges the adult could face.

Anyone with information was urged to call Southfield police at (248) 796-5540.

"Right now, you've got a mother grieving, you have other family members grieving, you have students who are grieving because, from my understanding, (the wounded teen) was very popular within the school," Barren said. "... This is irresponsible behavior that led to this young man being shot, but we're going to do all we can to uncover what happen and hold whoever is responsible ... accountable."

jaimery@detroitnews.com