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Police Release Video Of Suspects In CVS Parking Lot Murder And Carjacking

DETROIT (WWJ) - The victim in the case is being hailed a hero.

Detroit police have released subservience video in hope that the public can help them catch the culprits in a murder and carjacking.

Killed was 24-year-old pharmacy security Courtney Meeks of Detroit who had applied for a job as a Detroit police officer just one month ago.

James Craig news conference
Detroit Police Chief James Craig talks to reporters. (credit: Stephanie Davis/WWJ)

Speaking to reporters outside the CVS store on Shaffer, south of 6 Mile Road, where the shooting took place at round 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Chief James Craig said they're looking for three suspects responsible for a carjacking connected to the killing.

Security video shows three suspects, and police are hoping someone out there can identify them.

"It appears, at this point, they were on foot; they approached the victims in the car," said Craig. "Three suspects: one was clearly armed with a weapon."

Craig said the suspects ordered a woman and a 6-year-old the car. As the driver of the vehicle — another woman — was coming out of the store, she saw what was happening and ran back inside screaming for help.

That's when Meeks came to their aid.

"When the security officer confronted the suspects, they fired one shot," Craig said.

The suspects took off in the vehicle, a 2002 Ford Taurus. It was later recovered by police on Cheyenne Street near Grove; but a K-9 team found no sign of the suspects.

Meeks was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Craig said the three suspected are believed to be responsible for an attempted carjacking that happened just prior to this crime, right around the block  on Hartwell. When they were unable to activate that car's push-button start, investigators believe the perpetrators went looking for another vehicle.

Meeks' father stood beside Craig at Thursday's news conference, but declined to comment.

The chief praised the young security guard for his courage in this case.

"He's a hero," said Craig. "It's a tragic situation. Certainly we've talked about a number of countless situations here in Detroit where good people are going to the aid of people and suffer the consequences."

"I applaud him, as if he were a Detroit police officer, for his heroic act," Craig said.

Anyone who recognizes the suspects in the video or who has information about these crimes is urged to call Detroit Police Homicide at 313-596-2260.

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