Police said a fight preceded the Sunday morning gunfire at a west-side property already known to the department.
DETROIT — Three men were killed and four other people were wounded Sunday morning when an altercation led to gunfire at an after-hours location on Detroit’s west side, police said. Investigators said they had developed leads but had not announced an arrest.
The shooting happened shortly after 7:20 a.m. Sept. 27 near Prest Street and Eaton Avenue. Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison said officers responded after authorities received an alert indicating gunfire and a 911 call. Police reached the scene within about four minutes and found three men with fatal gunshot wounds. Four other people — two men and two women — were taken to hospitals in private vehicles with injuries that police said were not life-threatening.
Police said the three men who died were about 30 or older. The four surviving victims were men and women in their 20s and 30s. Authorities had not publicly released the identities of the three people killed by Sunday evening. Officials also had not identified a suspect or announced any arrests.
Bettison said investigators believe a fight occurred before the shooting. Police had not publicly established what started the confrontation or released a detailed account of the events leading to the gunfire. A city violence-prevention official referenced information suggesting the dispute may have involved a cellphone, but police had not confirmed that as the cause of the confrontation.
The property where the shooting occurred was already known to Detroit police. Bettison said officers had received seven calls for service at the address since the beginning of 2026 and that the department had an existing investigation involving the location. Police described the property as an after-hours operation where dancing-type activities occurred. Officials did not immediately provide details about the earlier investigation or say whether the previous calls were connected to Sunday’s violence.
Local television footage and reporting showed a large police presence around the property as investigators processed the scene. Authorities said people at the location attempted to help the victims before first responders arrived. Michigan State Police also assisted as the area was secured and investigators gathered evidence.
Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield joined Bettison and other city leaders near the scene. Sheffield said the city would continue efforts to address illegal after-hours operations at residential properties and businesses. City officials also discussed support for residents and families affected by the shooting through Detroit’s neighborhood and community safety programs.
A woman who identified one of the men killed as her 32-year-old brother told CBS News Detroit that he was a father of four. Authorities had not formally released his identity at the time of the initial reports. Police said notification and investigative work were continuing before additional information about the victims would be released.
Bettison said detectives had leads in the case but did not disclose their nature or identify the person or people investigators believe were responsible. Police also had not publicly said how many weapons were fired during the confrontation. Authorities said they did not believe the shooting represented an ongoing threat to the surrounding neighborhood.
Investigators continued working Sunday to determine who opened fire and establish the full sequence of events. No arrests had been publicly announced by Sunday evening, and the identities of the three men killed remained officially undisclosed as the investigation continued.
Author note: Last updated September 27, 2026.