Case against 2 charged in March murder advances
The case against two men charged in the March 23 murder of Marquis Myles of Pontiac has been advanced to Oakland County Circuit Court.
At the conclusion of a preliminary exam Monday, Judge Cynthia Thomas Walker of 50th District Court said there was evidence to advance the case against Deavonte Burkett and Delorean Jones to the higher court.
Burkett, 28, and Jones, 24, are facing charges of open murder, assault with intent to murder and weapons offenses in the death of Myles, 23, in Pontiac. According to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, Myles and his friend were both shot while in a car in the area of Osmun and Russell streets where they had reportedly gone to meet with two people. The friend, who suffered a grazing wound, reported that two people approached the vehicle, opened the back doors and began shooting inside it, the sheriff’s office said. The friend then reportedly accelerated from the scene and drove to an area hospital where Myles was pronounced dead.
Jones was arrested three days later. Burkett remained at-large for about another month until he was taken into custody at a Pontiac residence by the Oakland County Fugitive Apprehension Team, Oakland County SWAT and the Pontiac Directed Patrol Unit.
At the time of their arrests, both defendants were on parole from the Michigan Department of Corrections. Jones’ criminal history includes armed robbery and drug charges. Burkett’s criminal history includes weapons charges and assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder.
Burkett and Jones will be arraigned in Oakland County Circuit Court on Sept. 30. They’re held in the Oakland County Jail, denied bond.