Detroit man found guilty of killing 2, injuring 6 in mass shooting over parking dispute

On Wednesday, exactly two years after two people were killed and six others were injured in a mass shooting over a parking dispute on Detroit's west side, the man charged with 20 counts, including murder, in the tragedy was found guilty.

Winston Kirtley Jr., 38, of Detroit, was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder, six counts of assault with intent to murder, two counts of discharging a weapon at a building and 10 counts of felony firearm.

Witnesses and police said that in the early hours of July 31, 2022, Kirtley was arguing with two people — later identified as Toyake Marshall-Thirkield, 39, and Andre Willis, 38 — about where they had parked on Coyle Street, near his driveway.

Kirtley allegedly went into his home and came out with a high-powered weapon that looked like an AR-15 or an AK-47 and opened fire at the pair's vehicle, a witness previously described to the Free Press. Marshall-Thirkield and Willis, who were inside, were killed in the shooting.

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After shooting at the vehicle, Kirtley went back inside his home and began shooting from atop an awning, this time toward the house across the street, where a family was celebrating a birthday. Six family members were injured, including a 19-year-old and two cousins who were shot in the face.

Detroit Police Chief James White had said that Kirtley had a military background and "strategically staged" guns around his home, where police recovered 11 firearms.

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A lawyer for Kirtley at the time said Kirtley was in a "confused state of mind" and was ordered by the court to undergo a psychological examination. He was initially found incompetent to stand trial but was found competent almost two years later.

Kirtley is due back in court on Sept. 4, 2024, where a judge will determine his sentence. First-degree murder would normally carries a sentence of life in prison without parole.

“I have always known that at times the most trivial events can cause the heaviest damage. The alleged motive here is way beyond the pale and has now changed lives forever,” Prosecutor Kym Worthy wrote in a statement following Wednesday's verdict.

“It is clear and has been clear for some time that absolutely nothing is sacred when it comes to gun violence these days. It is also apparent that there is little political will to control the mechanisms behind it.” 

Andrea Sahouri covers criminal justice for the Detroit Free Press. She can be contacted atasahouri@freepress.com.