Ypsilanti Police seeking suspected gunman after 3 shot during drug deal
The suspected gunman who fired on three acquaintances after a drug deal went bad Friday night is still at large, Ypsilanti Police said Saturday.
Quenton Dodson
From Ypsilanti Police
Quenton Martez Dodson, 24, is wanted by police for attempted murder, according to officials.
He was still at large at noon Saturday, but police remain in pursuit.
"We're following up on some leads and some tips," said Detective Sgt. Troy Fulton.
Dodson is believed to be the gunman who fired upon three people in the 300 block of Jarvis, on the edge of the Eastern Michigan University campus, on Friday evening.
According to a report in the Eastern Echo that quotes a student who helped one of the victims, the location was near the Eagles Nest Apartments. Dodson lives in that area, Fulton said.
The victims, ages 18 to 20, were rushed to area hospitals, police said. Their conditions stabilized overnight, said Sgt. Kevin Dorsey.
Police worked overnight sorting out details of the crime, Dorsey said.
So far, it appears that the victims and a fourth person were attempting to buy Oxycontin and Dodson was involved.
The shooting evolved after "a dispute over what exactly they were supposed to be getting," during the buy, Fulton said.
The deal went south, and Dodson pulled out a handgun and fired on the group.
One man was struck in the stomach, and arriving officers tending to him learned that two others also were shot, one with a wound to the hip and the other struck in the chest.
EMU issued a warning to students, due to the incident's proximity to campus. None of the people involved in the shooting were students, according to police. One victim is from Ann Arbor and two are from Ypsilanti Township.
"This was not a random act," said Bob Heighes, acting chief of EMU's Department of Public Safety.
EMU officers assisted Ypsilanti police as the incident unfolded, Heighes said, and they've reviewed surveillance video from the areas of campus closest to it.
That turned up no leads on where Dodson may have gone, Heighes said.
"The guy ran away from campus," he said.
DPS has received some calls regarding the incident, Heighes added, and his staff has been reassuring students that the shooting victim and suspects have no ties to the university.
Dodson was sentenced in 2006 for two breaking and entering charges, once each in 2005 and 2006, according to Michigan Department of Corrections records. Both of those crimes took place in Washtenaw County. Additional details were not available early Saturday.
He's described as 5'8" tall and about 160 pounds. Both of his ears are pierced, and he has a scraggly beard, according to alerts. At the time of the shooting, he was wearing a white baggy shirt, blue jeans and red baseball cap.
Anyone with information should call Ypsilanti police at 734-483-9510.
Comments
Berda Green
Wed, Mar 28, 2012 : 6:51 p.m.
plz catch him hope he didnt leave town i but i bet he didi
M.
Mon, Mar 26, 2012 : 12:04 p.m.
I'm confused. Why does anyone care whether EMU "admits" that "it had anything to do" with the shooting? Everyone who goes to EMU, and everyone who lives in the area know that crime occurs around here. Even shootings once in a great while. Why is it EMU's problem and why do so many people think there is some kind of conspiracy involving EMU covering up crime? Not only did EMU issue an alert to students, but I'm willing to bet nearly all EMU students can read a map. They can look at a map on google and see how close this shooting was to their vicinity. I bet they will still pursue their degrees. Leave EMU alone and quit looking for some heavy detective story.
Monica R-W
Sun, Mar 25, 2012 : 8:24 a.m.
Sad when the economy at a putter...prescription drugs are the "new legalized drug" industry. Sad, indeed. Glad EMU students were not innocent victims of this situation near the campus.
SEC Fan
Sun, Mar 25, 2012 : 6:29 p.m.
don't blame the economy on this one...dude has a record going back to 2005!
Nels Eriksson
Sun, Mar 25, 2012 : 1:52 a.m.
Heh, now that they're in the hospital, they'll be getting something stronger than the Oxycontin that they were looking for, courtesy of the hospital staff.
emu interesting
Sun, Mar 25, 2012 : 5:54 a.m.
probably cheaper also!!
emu interesting
Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 11:19 p.m.
hoenz...does it suprise you that bob heighes acting chief of emu does not want to admit that it had anything thing to do on campus and was just a random act....thank god they admitted it was a crime...remember the laura dickeson case when that did not admit that it was a murder? Its a shame that EMU has not placed the chief yet. Three people shot one of whom was down on campus he all he can do is down play the crime! I was hoping that some learning may have gone on, I am thankful that my children dont go to EMU and they wont until they get some responsible police leadership back in place.
MathGeek
Sun, Mar 25, 2012 : 11:47 p.m.
It would be easier to understand the point you were trying to make, if it were expressed in complete sentences. I could care less how many officers each department has. You were the one that was trying to say EMU has too many police on shift. I was simply saying, you can't say both that the campus isn't safe enough, and that they have too many police. Also, you don't have to "educated" me about CCR. I love Credence Clearwater Revival....one of my favorite bands. You also don't have to "educated" me about the Clery Act, or how reporting works, but I appreciate the gesture. To me, it seems as if you can't look past something that happened 6 years ago, to the changes that have been made, simply because one person is in charge now. You, and everyone that reads this article, can nit pick about "There wasn't any evidence as to which way he ran", and "The deal went south". The point is, EMU responded appropriately, within the law, and is doing everything necessary to assist YPD in apprehending this scum bag. If you've ever been on campus, and called EMU PD because of an emergency, you'd know that they are top of the line officers, and work very hard to keep EMU and the students, staff and faculty safe. Laura Dickenson has nothing to do with what happened at Lowell and Jarvis, get over it.
emu interesting
Sun, Mar 25, 2012 : 7:13 p.m.
and btw your late statement is just plain stupid....what if an innocent student is shot at what point is it not on them
emu interesting
Sun, Mar 25, 2012 : 7:12 p.m.
Wow mathgeek your coorect about one thing, Chief O'dell was hired and did greats things for EMU. Yes, Chief hayes(heighes) was a Lt. during the Laera Dickcenson case but the people that were fired uncluded VP Jim Vick and his only fault was trustung chief whats her name and the two Lts one of whom was Heighes and not stanfing up to them. Its not my job to educated you about why the CCR acting was but into place. However i will say that it was to stop campuses from pretending that they are safe. Why do you know about the crime and EMU and surounding areas for AA because they report it and dont pad there stats...which EMU has done for years. Yes Chief Odell was committed to chankge that but he s not here any longer and the village idiot has taken over again. And I xhallenge you to find out the number of officers each department has, EMu has a stated of the Art building, eqiupment and more officers on at any givin time and all of the cctv equp,emt that chief odell prefected before his untimely passing.
MathGeek
Sun, Mar 25, 2012 : 2:41 p.m.
I agree, it is a real shame, EMU hasn't placed the Chief yet. Bob Heighs would be, and is, a great Chief. First of all, Chief Bob was a Lt at the time Laura Dickenson was murdered. The Chief, VP and President were all fired as a result of that debacle, so get your facts straight. Chief Greg O'Dell replaced Chief Cindy what's her face, and did a lot to make sure EMU was safer than it has ever been, and followed Clery to the letter of the law. How can you complain that EMU isn't safe, and also complain they have more police than the city of Ypsi (which I'm sure isn't true)? Please, send your children to UofM, where there is never any crime.....except for the sexual assaults that happened not so long ago. Please look up EMU crime statistics, as well as those of all of the other universities in MI, and get back to us all about how unsafe the campus is. Also, please elaborate on which laws Chief Hayes and his staff are not following. And, if students attempt to buy drugs, and get shot as a result, that's on them. EMU isn't into hand holding.
emu interesting
Sun, Mar 25, 2012 : 5:53 a.m.
well sw40 did I say it was EMU's fault no...but how this Mr Heighes handled it is his fault. At least according to what the nedia said. EMU has some great police officers, and have for many years, however they also have more officers just covering camous then the city has for the whole city. But when the "acting chief is quoted saying that this was not a random act...their officers checked surveilence and turned up no evidence of where the guy had gone and that he ran away from campus..if he ran away from campus then it had some evidence of where the subject went. Furthermore, do you not think that any EMU students buy drugs, could one of the students living in the apartment been hit? yes they do and yes we are lucky that they were not at time of night. My point is that I am happy that Mr heighes and his staff have finally started giving timely warning but until they or some of them admit whats going on and start following the laws that are put in place to protect students then my childern will not attend my alma matter. They should have gotton rid of him back when that poor girl was murdered, along with the others
SW40
Sun, Mar 25, 2012 : 4:21 a.m.
So if a drug deal goes down across the street from a local business and a shooting occurs where one of the victim runs into the business do you then blame the business. A shooting occurred in an apartment building parking lot and yet no one is blaming the apartment. The shooter wasn't a student, the victims weren't students, please explain to me how this was EMU's fault. If you make a valid point I'll acknowledge as such, but as far as I can tell you are just blaming EMU for a crime that happened in Ypsilanti and spilled onto EMU's campus.
Mach 3
Sun, Mar 25, 2012 : 3:51 a.m.
I feel unsafe on emu's campus.
Honez
Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 10:19 p.m.
I didn't witness the shootings, but I witnessed the emergency response. To say that there was nothing affiliated with EMU is a bit misleading. One of the "victims" was found on EMU property in the Alexander Building pay parking lot. I know, I watched the police and ambulance question/treat him and put him in the ambulance. He was a big guy, white, wearing a dark top/jacket. Another "victim" was inside a parked red Cavalier station wagon which was parked at the corner of Jarvis and Lowell. When he was pulled out of the car on a back board, he wasn't wearing a shirt and had tattoos on his arm. He seemed conscious because he had his armed crossed without them being strapped down. Also there was police officers down the road questioning another white male, looked to be young, sitting on the steps of a 300 block house. I took some pictures from the corner of Jarvis and Lowell.
AAStudent
Sun, Mar 24, 2013 : 6:01 a.m.
Hello, do you by any chance still have the pictures you took that night? It would be great if I could somehow get them emailed to me. Thanks
Lisa
Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 7:05 p.m.
What is really sad is a young man that has continually committed crimes all over Mi.The other counties shoving it under the rug Pilttsfield one of his many victims called a liar and even said they threatened to kill did nothing once again and we have 3 shot people when will police start doing their jobs had you of lock him up for his home invasions with violent threats to his victims we would not be having this conversations?
M.
Mon, Mar 26, 2012 : 11:59 a.m.
Also, punctuation saves lives (and headaches). Seriously though, it's hard to tell exactly what you are saying with absolutely no punctuation (except the question mark at the end of what does not appear to be a question).
Pickforddick
Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 9:16 p.m.
Don't blame the police, they catch the criminals. Blame the radical judges that are turning them free along with the parole boards. Make these people responsible for the ones they release and you will not have as much crime.
Paula Gardner
Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 6:07 p.m.
This is the update, starting from early this morning - we did have coverage last night in the first hours after it happened. It should have been in the newsletter.
SEC Fan
Sun, Mar 25, 2012 : 6:22 p.m.
Agree, this is a small publication, one cannot expect 24 hour reporting.
Soft Paw
Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 6:07 p.m.
If drugs were legal this wouldn't happen so much.
SEC Fan
Sun, Mar 25, 2012 : 6:19 p.m.
If murder (and attempted murder) were legal, this wouldn't be news either.
Gretchen Ridenour
Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 5:54 p.m.
Paula, I am surprised this article wasn't posted in the 6:00am email from annarbor.com. This story was on the 11:00pm news on all 3 major networks last night. What took so long to get this on line here in town?
joe.blow
Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 5:10 p.m.
HEY, STOP THE VIOLENCE IN YPSI!!!! You're bringing my property value down, go do that stuff somewhere else.
EyeHeartA2
Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 4:21 p.m.
Sunglasses and now Oxycontin. You just can't buy anthing over there anymore without fear of lead poisoning.
Homeland Conspiracy
Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 2:58 p.m.
Were they wearing Hoodies?
Monica R-W
Sun, Mar 25, 2012 : 8:26 a.m.
Not funny, not a bit. RIP Trayvon Martin.
Red Floyd
Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 2:48 p.m.
I'm getting real annoyed with the folks who read an article on AA.com, and afterward, must find ONE thing buried somewhere in the article that supports their obviously all-consuming conviction that the journalism at AA.com is below their standards. A couple of days ago, there was an article about a guy who built his own tent, and climbed to the summit of the largest mountain in the western hemisphere, and following the article, someone was hung-up on the fact that the writer didn't mention which country in which the mountain was located. Seriously??? And now, a handful of people are all steamed-up because the phrase "deal went south" was used. Hey Craig Lounsbury...using the word "peeps" in your complaint about diction, completely invalidates you as a participant in a conversation about word choice. If you don't like the journalism standards in AA.com, don't read the articles!
SEC Fan
Sun, Mar 25, 2012 : 6:17 p.m.
I'll repeat a reply I made above: My guess is the frustration isn't particularly pointed at this article; rather at a great many articles that appear in this "newspaper". Journalistic standards within this "publication" (quotations due to it being online) are, in general, very poor. Last week, there was even an article based upon - per the author - a Facebook post! I fear that if Watergate were to occur today, no one would be the wiser (use of colloquialism intended). Our nation's best investigative journalists seemingly work exclusively for TMZ :-)
Craig Lounsbury
Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 4:26 p.m.
Hey Red Floyd, the difference between me using "peeps" (something I did intentionally) and AnnArbor.com using "went south" is that I'm not a paid professional. Further more Red Floyd, I never complained about diction. I merely stated I was "surprised" at the use of the term. Being "surprised" isn't the same as complaining. What you have done Red Floyd is create a straw man argument. And I might suggest you could take your own advice from your closing sentence , and don't read the comments since you stated some of them annoy you.
Homeland Conspiracy
Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 3:03 p.m.
Thank you Red Floyd
Pickforddick
Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 2:55 p.m.
I love reading articles in the A2 news because the writers are down to earth and not English professors, professors are boring.
kid Cudi
Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 2:28 p.m.
oh wow guys you are do right...what a mess up saying "deal went south" that is the most important issue here about the choice of a words of saying the deal went south..when it should be awry...i would be more worried about the victims or their family...pathetic someone would worry about a saying...and things went south goes with the situation there is nothing unclassy about it. it attracts the youth into reading articles
observer
Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 2:21 p.m.
Mark Hergott, why do you have to be critical of the grammar. Please just read the article for what it is. You sound like an English teacher grading a paper.....YPD will get their man......
SEC Fan
Sun, Mar 25, 2012 : 6:09 p.m.
sorry, I wrote "Parentheses" but should have written Quotation marks...I, too, need an editor...
SEC Fan
Sun, Mar 25, 2012 : 6:08 p.m.
My guess is the frustration isn't particularly pointed at this article; rather at a great many articles that appear in this "newspaper". Journalistic standards within this "publication" (parentheses due to it being online) are, in general, very poor. Last week, there was even an article based upon - per the author - a Facebook post! I fear that if Watergate were to occur today, no one would be the wiser (use of colloquialism intended). Our nation's best investigative journalists seemingly work exclusively for TMZ :-)
Davidian
Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 10:31 p.m.
I write professionally and colloquialisms (like "deal went south") are perfectly appropriate here. I would say the New York Times is perceived as top notch from a journalistic writing standpoint (politics aside), and it's filled with colloquial English.
Lovaduck
Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 4:06 p.m.
We NEED more English teachers grading papers, as you call it, when the standards of grammar and usage are so degraded and low. It's not stuffy, nor is it ignoring the more serious issues in an account, to ask that it be written in a proper and clear grammatical manner. If that makes me sound old and stuffy, so be it!
Homeland Conspiracy
Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 3:02 p.m.
Thank you!!!
LaMusica
Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 2:21 p.m.
Now that the police have identified a suspect, it makes me hopeful for a quick arrest. I hope the victims recover quickly and have no permanent physical injuries, but I do have one question...if this was an alleged drug deal, will the victims face any legal issues? Attempt to purchase controlled substances or something? Just curious...
Don B. Arfkahk
Mon, Mar 26, 2012 : 2:32 a.m.
Hopefully they will be incarcerated, so that the street price of Oxycontin will be increased further and more crime generated from addicts who have to rob or steal to afford their addiction. I have a lot of venture capital invested in the grassroots private prison movement here in Michigan, and stand to get yet richer from more arrests.
GirlNextDoor
Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 1:19 p.m.
I've got a child at EMU, and I'm glad that EMU is always quick to notify students/staff by text and email of events that impact their safety - as they did last night. We were at Tower Inn, eating dinner at the time, when we saw several police vehicles in the area. While this did not happen on campus, Jarvis, where the shooting took place, is very close to Downing and Best dorms. As you exit the dorm parking lot, the apartments are across the street, on Jarvis, just before you get to Huron River Drive. I'm happy that all students were safe, and I hope that Dodson will be caught soon.
GirlNextDoor
Sun, Mar 25, 2012 : 3:38 p.m.
I agree with you, EyeHeartA2. My student is a junior, and I have been very impressed with the safety of all students at EMU's campus, College of Business, and the immediate surrounding area. The times I've been on campus, or picked my student up from the COB for lunch, there is always a noticeable DPS presence.
EyeHeartA2
Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 4:19 p.m.
I think thier willingness to quickly notify improved dramatically after the lawsuit and firings a few years back. Just a hunch.
Mark Hergott
Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 1:14 p.m.
Paula, this is a classy newspaper. "The alleged deal went awry" or something similar is much better than bringing directional slang into the procedure.
Chase Ingersoll
Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 12:57 p.m.
Paula: I liked the way you wrote this. Yes, "deal went south" is an expression that typically makes it into the paper, but it is exactly how the participants and police would characterize the situation and for that reason I think it is more than appropriate for you to use. Chase Ingersoll
sailor67
Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 12:21 p.m.
Did you ever notice that everytime the cops have a "suspect" or a "person of interest", they also have a photo of that person wearing an orange jumpsuit? It's incanny!!
Don B. Arfkahk
Mon, Mar 26, 2012 : 2:30 a.m.
Pickforddick, prisons are already a place no one would want to return to. Why else would there be so many gun battles and high speed chases when police try to apprehend a suspect? If it's really the Hotel Hilton you should check yourself in and enjoy the vacation.
Jaime Magiera
Sun, Mar 25, 2012 : 10:09 p.m.
Peter hit the nail on the head (see: Ed Meese, CXW, Unicor, FPI, etc.).
Pickforddick
Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 4:21 p.m.
If they are so bad why do criminals keep going back? I believe we should take away all the privileges and make the prisons a place where no one would ever want to return.
Peter
Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 4:12 p.m.
Prisons are run to make money for their owners, not to provide justice or rehabilitation. Recidivism means recurring income.
Homeland Conspiracy
Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 3 p.m.
Let's see how long this stays up b4 A2.com censors it.
Pickforddick
Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 2:41 p.m.
They just use pictures they took the last time the subject was in jail, saving money on a new one.
j
Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 1:01 p.m.
uncanny?
BobbyTarsus
Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 12:58 p.m.
Orange is in nowadays!
Craig Lounsbury
Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 11:47 a.m.
"The deal went south...." sounds like something I would say to my peeps, but I'm a bit surprised to see it "in print".
Don B. Arfkahk
Mon, Mar 26, 2012 : 2:27 a.m.
DBH - thanks for the laugh! That was great.
DBH
Sat, Mar 24, 2012 : 1:48 p.m.
Yes, I suggest "The negotiations were not progressing favorably and were, therefore, terminated to their mutual dissatisfaction."