Police: Video exists of murder suspect in workplace shooting
The attorney for a man charged with murder in a fatal workplace shooting in Hazel Park last month got a judge’s order Thursday to go over video from the shooting with his client in the Oakland County Jail.
“I need to know if I can take my laptop into the jail so we can review the video,” defense attorney Larry Polk told Hazel Park 43rd District Judge Brian Hartwell. “The last time I was there they wouldn’t let me bring my laptop in.”
Hartwell said he will issue the order during Thursday’s hearing for suspect Malik L. Dixon-Lynch, 25, of Sterling Heights, who appeared via Zoom from the jail.
Oakland County Special Prosecutor John Pietrofesa said prosecutors will also provide all the video to Judge Hartwell to review before Dixon-Lynch’s next court date at 1 p.m. Dec. 9 for an in-person preliminary examination.
After the hearing, Hazel Park Chief Brian Buchholz told the Tribune video exists of the parking lot outside the LG Energy Solution business in the Tri-County Commerce Center at 1400 E. 10 Mile Road that shows the shooting.
Dixon-Lynch is charged with second-degree murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, and two counts of possessing a firearm in the commission of a felony.
Hazel Park police said he shot and killed Rafael Scott-French, 27, of Clinton Township on Oct. 21.
Scott-French worked as a forklift driver and Dixon-Lynch was a team leader for laborers at LG Energy Solution, police said.
The suspect has no prior criminal record. Still, police said they recovered the 9mm semiautomatic handgun used in the deadly shooting that is registered to the suspect.
After the fatal shooting, police said DixonLynch walked through the parking lot and pointed the handgun at another male employee trying to hide behind a vehicle, but did not shoot.
Earlier, Dixon-Lynch tried to break up an al
tercation between that worker and Scott-French, police said.
After the altercation, a supervisor ordered ScottFrench and the other worker to leave the building, police said.
About 45 minutes later, police said ScottFrench pulled up in his car near the building exit after spotting DixonLynch.
When the Scott-French got out of his car to talk to the suspect, police said Dixon-Lynch shot him.
Police said they arrested the suspect shortly after being called to LG Energy Solution.
Buchholz said earlier Dixon-Lynch admitted he shot Scott-French, but claimed it was self defense.
Nothing turned up in the investigation showing the suspect was defending himself, police said.
The second-degree murder charge against Dixon-Lynch is punishable by up to life in prison.
Assault with a dangerous weapon is a four-year felony, and the two felony firearm charges are each two-year felonies.