Authorities probe fatal shooting of tattoo artist

Police respond to homicide at Clemens Court apartment complex

Clinton Township police are investigating an early-morning shooting that took the life of a tattoo artist in his apartment.

The homicide took place early Saturday morning in a third-floor apartment at the Clemens Court complex on Hickory Lane, in the area of Henry B. Joy Boulevard, east of Gratiot Avenue on the township’s northeast side.

Police Capt. Richard Maierle said officers were called to the complex about 2 a.m. to respond to a report of a shooting. The caller did not provide an address, so when officers arrived, they had to search for the scene of the shooting but eventually located an open door to an apartment and went inside.

“Our guys said as soon as they walked into the apartment, they could still smell the gunpowder,” Maierle said. “They found a 42-year-old man dead inside of an apparent gunshot wound.”

No suspects have been identified and no arrests have been made, he added.

Investigators said the victim lives alone and had been working out of his apartment, providing tattoos to friends and neighbors. His name

No suspects have been identified and no arrests have been made.

has not yet been released.

Maierle said several casings were discovered on the floor, but it appears the victim was only struck once in the chest.

Detectives are working to determine what took place prior to the shooting and looking for any witnesses to the incident.

Several residents this past October told The Macomb Daily that multiple units operate as drug houses, and there is drag racing, gunshots, gambling, loitering and loud music at all hours.

Clemens Court is a 168unit subsidized, Section 8 low-income housing community. It is adjoined by Newport Apartments, another subsidized, low-income community.

Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at the Clinton Township Police Department at 586-493-7840.