Ferndale teen on life support after shooting during unsupervised hotel stay

A 15-year-old Ferndale boy is on life support after being shot in an upscale hotel room occupied by several teens with no adult supervision, Southfield police say.

The boy was shot once in the back of the head Sunday morning, Feb. 11, at the Westin Hotel, 1500 Town Center Drive, and is on life support, Southfield Police Chief Elvin Barren said.

A 15-year-old Detroit boy, who had the handgun that police believe was used in the shooting, is in custody but has not been charged. A police investigation is continuing.

Barren expressed frustration at a press conference Monday, Feb. 12, over the lack of adult supervision that allowed teens to occupy the hotel room and to have access to weapons.

“(The victim) is in grave condition and this could have been prevented by responsible adults,” Barren said. “Right now, you have a mother grieving. You have other family members grieving. You have friends grieving. From what we understand, he was a very popular young man.”

Barren said an adult man rented the room online and showed identification to check in Saturday evening, Feb. 10. The adult turned the room over to the teens, who routinely get together as friends, Barren said.

The adult could face charges, he said.

Police received a call about a shooting at about 8:40 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 11, Barren said.

Police believe a total of five teens were in the hotel room — four 15-year-olds and one 16-year-old.

Barren said he could not disclose any possible relationship between the adult and any of the teens.

Police are investigating the circumstances that led to the shooting; investigators don’t know if it was accidental or intentional.

Barren did not know if the group of teens had ever gotten a hotel room together before.

The teen who had the gun that police believe was used in the shooting also had another handgun in his possession, Barren said.

The gun believed used in the shooting was stolen in Flint in June 2022.

The teen in custody and another teen were stopped by officers immediately after the shooting near an elevator at the hotel; they were possibly trying to flee, Barren said.

Barren said on a Saturday night, rooms at the Westin rent for at least $200.

Police found marijuana and “magic” mushrooms in the room; they don’t yet know if the teens consumed them. Police found no evidence of possession or consumption of alcohol.