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Grandmother: 9-Month-Old's Killing Stems From Fight Over Baby Shower Seating

DETROIT - The grandmother of slain baby Delric Miller revealed during an interview on Charlie Langton's Talk Radio 1270 morning show she suspects the 9-month-old was killed over a skirmish about seating at a baby shower.

Miller was killed when someone fired an estimated 40 rounds from an AK-47 into his family's home in Detroit last weekend. Police first said it was a "gang related" incident; grandmother Cynthia Wilkins has a different story.

"They went to the baby shower first of all, at the baby shower they were arguing about seating ...They were there to celebrate life, and my grandson is dead today," Wilkins said.

When Langton asked her to explain the relationship between the baby shower and Miller's death, Wilkins said a fight erupted at the shower when there weren't enough seats for everyone. Her 19-year-old daughter, the baby's mother, was involved, as was the expectant mother, 20 or 21 years old.

"They were arguing about seating, turning tables over, it was just ignorant -- at a baby shower," Wilkins said, adding that her daughter told her she didn't know the people involved.

"Did your daughter leave?" Langton asked.

Wilkins said she did, adding, "After they left the baby shower, they were followed to a gas station, my daughter was followed. The fight escalated. Then they followed them home, went back when they were asleep, shot up the house and killed my grandson."

So, the baby's killing was revenge? Langton asked.

"It is not gang related, it is not, it followed some incident that took place at Club Celebrity (the baby shower)," Wilkins said. "They booked too many events, then it ended up them arguing about a freaking seat.

"They're telling me my grandson is dead over a seat at a table at a bar."

Wilkins added that she's also suffering in the wake of the killing. "I'm not living, I'm barely here. I can't sleep, I can't eat. I'm sick. My baby is gone," Wilkins said, adding, "My daughter is devastated, she is devastated."

Wilkins added that her daughter doesn't know the people from the shower or have any idea who opened fire on her house.

"No, she got into it with all of them, she didn't know the people," Wilkins said. "If she knew them, don't you think she would have told them (the police)?"

In light of senseless killings like these, Langton asked Wilkins if she feels safe in the city of Detroit.

And Wilkins defended her hometown.

"To a certain degree, yes I do, this is where I'm from, I should not have to fear somebody from where I'm from. I'm from
Detroit, I can go anywhere in Detroit that I choose to go, and I should feel safe.

"A lot of people do not feel safe and it's because of incidents like this," Langton said. "Is life that worthless,
meaningless?"

"That's where we're coming to....No that's where we're at," Wilkins said. "They're senseless, they're ignorant... They can
get guns, but they can't read a book."

Crime Stoppers of Michigan is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Anyone with information can
leave an anonymous tip at (800) SPEAK-UP or call the Detroit police homicide division at (313) 596-2260.

Visitation for Miller will be held from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday at the O.H. Pye III Funeral Home, 17600 Plymouth Road. A
funeral will be held at 12:30 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

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