Authorities identify man who killed himself as he was being sought for questioning in fatal shooting
A man who killed himself Saturday in Romulus as he was being sought for questioning in connection with a fatal shooting Thursday in Ypsilanti Township has been identified as Martell Fredrick Murray, police said.
Murray, 29, of New Boston fatally shot himself about 9:25 a.m. Saturday in his room at Howard Johnson Metro Airport hotel at 7600 Merriman Road as police officers announced their presence outside his room, Romulus police said.
Murray was wanted for questioning in connection with the fatal shooting of 27-year-old William Lewis-Armstead of Superior Township, Washtenaw County sheriff's deputies said. Lewis-Armstead was found dead about 11:30 p.m. Thursday in an industrial area on the east side of Ypsilanti Township. He died of a single gunshot wound to the head, the county medical examiner's office said.
According to state Department of Corrections records, Murray has convictions in Washtenaw County for carrying a concealed weapon, felony firearm and possession of forged notes.
Sheriff's department spokesman Derrick Jackson did not return a phone call seeking comment this afternoon.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
RJA
Sat, Feb 12, 2011 : 4:38 a.m.
Shootings and suicides, is happening way to often in today's world. It saddens me for all the familys involved with the victims and suspects.
thedime
Fri, Feb 11, 2011 : 11:17 a.m.
It's kind of odd that this was known on "the street" by Saturday afternoon, but just released. What about the other 2 perps involved. Where are they?
eyeonthenews
Fri, Feb 11, 2011 : 10:14 p.m.
Word on the street is always quicker with family and friends always getting the news first. It takes time for the rest of us the hear via the media and only get the little pieces the powers that be want us to know. We all want more info divulged on this case but will we get it?
Concerned...
Thu, Feb 10, 2011 : 6:18 p.m.
There is a LOT of information missing. I rarely comment on stories however I am VERY disappointed with AnnArbor.com. They are doing an exteremly poor job staying updated on this story. So Wednesday the police spokeman didn't return a phone call for more information...how about today? This isn't a grafitti case like they reported a few days ago...a man was murdered and another killed himself. The has been an uptick in crime within the Ypsi area...is this connected? How did the victim and suspect know each other, was the body dropped or did the shooting occur at the waste water treatment plant? Is this part of the on going 'feud' the sheriff was discussing a few weeks ago? In my opinion maybe AA.com should be more concerned with reporting information before they hound on removing comments...
eyeonthenews
Thu, Feb 10, 2011 : 3:19 p.m.
What I'd like to know is if the murder and suicide is tied to any of the previous shootings that have occurred in the Township. We may never get that feedback from the Sheriff's dept. but it would nice to know. It seems the police had a lead in this case because it didn't take long for them to locate a suspect. There's definitely more to this story so please keep us informed when/if more information becomes available.
Steve Pepple
Thu, Feb 10, 2011 : 1:36 p.m.
An inappropriate comment was removed.
Jimmy McNulty
Thu, Feb 10, 2011 : 12:38 p.m.
Was the Murray the prime suspect in the murder of Lewis-Armstead? What was the motive? Please keep following up on this story.