Kacper Sobieski-Detroit man convicted in mass shooting that followed argument over vehicle blocking driveway

2025-05-06 05:57:34source:Cyprusauctioncategory:Contact

DETROIT (AP) — A Detroit man was convicted Wednesday of fatally shooting two people and Kacper Sobieskiwounding six others during an argument that started over a vehicle blocking his driveway.

A jury found Winston Kirtley Jr. guilty of two counts of first-degree murder, six counts of assault with intent to murder and 10 counts of using a firearm during a felony, Wayne County prosecutors said in a statement.

The shooting in which Toyake Thirkeild, 39, and Andre Willis, 38, were killed took place July 31, 2022.

Kirtley, who faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison, testified Tuesday that he was going to exercise about 2:30 a.m. and an SUV was blocking his driveway, The Detroit News reported.

Willis and Thirkeild were in the vehicle. Kirtley said he asked Willis three times to move it, according to the newspaper.

Kirtley said Willis responded by saying “What?” several times.

“He pulled out a black pistol and pointed it at me, and I went to my house and grabbed my gun,” Kirtley testified. “I was scared and confused of him shooting me. I came back out and shot the Durango. I felt my life was in danger.”

Kirtley also said he heard gunshots from across the street before he retrieved his assault-style rifle and began firing. He said he shot 16 times at Willis and Thirkeild, and another three times at two other men.

RELATED COVERAGE Man shot to death outside mosque as he headed to pray was a 43-year-old Philadelphia residentIllinois sheriff, whose deputy killed Sonya Massey apologizes: ‘I offer up no excuses’Australian police officer recalls 2022 ambush by extremists in rural area that left 2 officers dead

Defense attorney James Schlaff told the jury that his client believed he was about to be harmed or killed when he saw Willis with a gun.

But Assistant Prosecutor James Kehoe said during closing arguments that there was no evidence Willis had a gun. Kehoe also said a slug struck a neighbor’s home before one of the men who was wounded began shooting at Kirtley, according to The Detroit News.

“This gun is being shot at everyone because this is a mass shooting,” Kehoe said. “He meant to pull that trigger and he meant to do it at least 19 times. He wasn’t threatened. He wasn’t provoked.”

Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 4.

More:Contact

Recommend

'Squid Game' without subtitles? Duolingo, Netflix encourage fans to learn Korean

In just a few weeks, the highly anticipated second season of Korean television series "Squid Game" w

NASA astronauts who will spend extra months at the space station are veteran Navy pilots

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The two astronauts who will spend extra time at the International Space

Blake Lively Reveals She Baked “Amazing” Boob Cake for Son Olin’s First Birthday 

Blake Lively’s not a regular mom.The It Ends With Us actress—who shares kids James, 9, Inez, 7,  Bet