Third person in dispute pleads to man’s murder
Defendant interjected in squabble between victim, girlfriend
A 29-year-old Macomb Township man pleaded no contest to two charges Monday in the shooting death of a man at a Roseville motel, along with a sentencing deal that he serve 12 to 27 years in prison.
Devonte J. Tucker entered the plea to second-degree murder and felony firearm possession in front of Macomb County Circuit Judge Joseph Toia in the
April 2023 fatal shooting of Dorian Swenson, 30, a Marysville native who was residing in the motel, according to court records.
Tucker is scheduled to be sentenced May 1 by Toia.
Under the deal reached between Macomb prosecutors and defense attorney Adam Wolak, Tucker will serve 10 to 25 years for second-degree murder plus two mandatory years for felony firearm, records say.
Assistant Macomb Prosecutor Carmen DeFranco indicated that if Tucker, who is free after posting bond, fails to show up for sentencing or commits a crime before his sentencing, prosecutors will withdraw from the sentencing agreement, records say.
Tucker had been held without bond but was released after it was set at $100,000, cash or surety, Nov. 30 by Toia, and with a “high security ankle monitor” required, according to records.
The incident took place about 9:30 p.m. at the Victory Inn on Little Mack Avenue, north of 13 Mile Road, when Tucker shot Swenson in the chest during an altercation.
Tucker’s girlfriend had been arguing, and she left and returned with Tucker, who shot Swenson outside the doorway of Swenson’s room, according to Swenson’s brother, William Ryan Manning, told The Macomb Daily several days after the incident.
Police said the shooting was the result of a domestic disturbance between Swenson and his girlfriend. Tucker initially fled the scene but surrendered police. His trial had been scheduled to start Tuesday.