The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Police seeking help from residents
Homicide is first in city in more than a year
By Kathleen Conat, Special Writer
PUBLISHED: April 17, 2008
Ypsilanti police are seeking the public's help to solve the April 8 homicide of 28-year-old Melvin Dobbins, 28. The slaying was the city's first for the year.
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Officers were called to the 400 block of East Ainsworth Street at 11:15 p.m. on a report of shots fired. Upon arrival, officers observed a 2006 Ford Mustang resting in the front yard of a home and went to investigate. They found a man with a gunshot wound to the head.
Medical units were immediately called to the location, but the man, later identified as Dobbins, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Chief Matt Harshberger said there was evidence obtained that led detectives to believe this was "a narcotics transaction gone bad." Several shots had been fired and witnesses said they saw two men running from the scene.
Dobbins was an Ypsilanti Township resident and Harshberger said there was reason to believe the narcotics transaction has been brought into the neighborhood, but had no connection with anyone who lived there.
Evidence from the scene and the vehicle has been gathered and sent for analysis, which should be completed this week. Witnesses and family members of the deceased have been interviewed.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Ypsilanti Police Detective Bureau at 483-5849 and speak to Sgt. Troy Fulton.
Kathleen Conat is a longtime Ypsilanti resident and freelance writer for The Courier. She can be reached through editor@ypsilanticourier.com.
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