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Man Shot, Set On Fire In Vacant Lot On Detroit's East Side

DETROIT (WWJ) - Detroit police are searching for suspects after a man's burned body was found in a vacant lot on the city's east side.

Firefighters discovered the body between an abandoned house and an occupied house early Thursday morning after being called to a fire in the 12500 block of Waltham, in a neighborhood between East McNichols Road and Gratiot Avenue.

Police say it appears the victim, a man in his 20s, had been shot and set on fire. His identity has not yet been confirmed.

As police were wrapping up their investigation, they were called to another crime scene nearby that might be connected to the case. It wasn't immediately clear what happened at that second crime scene, near Tacoma Street and Gratiot Avenue, although a witness told WWJ's Mike Campbell that "blood and drag marks" were found in a home.

det - crime scene
Detroit police investigate a second crime scene where "blood and drag marks" were found inside a home. (Credit: Mike Campbell/WWJ Newsradio 950)

Lisa Chatman, who lives in the neighborhood where the body was found, said she didn't hear anything out of the ordinary overnight, but the whole thing has her "freaked out."

"I really would like to know who it is because I know everybody. I've been over here for 16 years, you know, I was here when all the houses was here," Chatman said.

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Lisa Chatman lives near the empty lot where a man's body was found. The victim had been shot and set on fire. (Credit: Mike Campbell/WWJ Newsradio 950)

Police are currently searching for suspects.

Anyone with information is urged to contact police at 313-596-2260 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.

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