FLINT (AP) — A man who authorities say fatally shot three people and wounded a fourth following an argument during a small party at a Michigan home was charged Thursday with murder and assault.
Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton announced the charges against James P. Simpkins, 20, of Detroit. He faces three counts of murder, one count of assault with intent to murder and one count of having a firearm in a felony.
A woman who was wounded in the shooting around 3:30 a.m. Wednesday managed to climb out of a window to flee the house in Flint and alert authorities.
"These individuals were all in the home," Leyton said at a news conference. "They had been drinking. They had been smoking marijuana. Essentially, they had been partying.
"One of the individuals began to harass, taunt, tease Mr. Simpkins by saying, 'You're crazy' or something like that, and Mr. Simpkins responded by opening fire on all of the victims." Leyton said all of the people in the home knew each other. Authorities haven't released the names of the victims.
The slayings put the homicide total in the city of about 102,000 people some 60 miles northwest of Detroit at 38 for the year.
"This is yet another unspeakable tragedy to hit our community," Leyton said in a written statement.
The prosecutor's office said Simpkins has retained a lawyer, but it didn't know the lawyer's name. Online court records Thursday didn't show details of the case. There was no phone listing for Simpkins in Detroit.
The survivor, a 20-year-old woman from Detroit, was shot twice, hit and strangled until she passed out, the prosecutor's office said. She fled after regaining consciousness.
Simpkins was arrested near the home that day. According to prosecutors, he fled after the shooting and called police, reporting he'd just been assaulted and two people were killed.
The murder charges are open, meaning prosecutors can seek either first-degree or second-degree murder convictions. A first-degree murder conviction brings a mandatory term of life in prison without the possibility of parole. A conviction for second-degree murder brings up to life.
Archive: Friday
Man charged with killing 3 at Michigan home
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FINAL: Joliet 5, Traverse City 2
The Traverse City Beach Bums lost their 2013 Frontier League season opener 5-2 to the Joliet Slammers on Friday night.
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UPDATE: Beach Bums, Slammers tied 1-1 in 4th
The Traverse City Beach Bums are tied with Joliet 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning of their 2013 Frontier League baseball season opener.
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Trojans sweep regional meet
It came down to the final event, but when all was said and done Traverse City Central came away with two regional track championships on Friday.
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Prep sports scoreboard: 05/17/2013
A roundup of high school sports results from across northern Michigan:
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Parking garage rates to rise
The Downtown Development Authority authorized an increase in transient parking rates at the city’s two municipal parking decks.
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Ex-Traverse City Manager Lewis to head St. Joseph
The city of St. Joseph picked Traverse City's former Manager Richard Lewis as their next city manager.
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Festival spotlights science, math
Newton’s Road, a regional nonprofit organization committed to increasing access to and appreciation of learning opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math, continues its Northern Michigan STEaM Film Festival on Saturday.
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Heroin overdose kills man
Benzie County's struggle with fatal heroin overdoses continues. Authorities confirmed Justin Smith, 23, of Benzonia, was found dead Wednesday night of a heroin overdose. Law enforcement officials arrested a suspect in Smith's death, the fourth heroin-related fatality in the county since 2011.
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Gladiators capture tennis regional
St. Francis tennis coach Jeff Hughes juggled his lineup during the season — and it paid off with a Division 4 regional title Thursday at Traverse City Central.
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Editorial: Obama must set tone for IRS, Justice Dept.
The issue: IRS, Justice Department have much to answer for. Our view: Leadership begins and ends with President Obama.
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Couple's film focuses on Latin American coffee farmers
Have you ever taken a moment to consider where your morning cup of java comes from?
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TCC girls beat Midland, qualify for state finals
Traverse City Central qualified for the girls tennis state finals for the 32nd straight year, handily winning the Division 1 regional at Midland.
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Beach Bums open tonight against Joliet
Jacob Clem will get the start in tonight’s Traverse City Beach Bums opener at Joliet.
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No food truck buffet rolled out on first day
Diners who hankered for food truck fare on the first day the mobile restaurants were allowed downtown came away hungry.
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Papa Roach is still swingin'
Papa Roach is still producing hit songs. It’s just getting harder and harder to get radio stations to play them.
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Letters to the Editor: 05/17/2013
Second to none; Teach more about less.
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Firings anger Grand Traverse Band members
Tribal officials fired six of their Natural Resources Department employees for shooting a rifle off their office’s deck, a move that’s angered some Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa members who said the punishment is too severe.
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One-woman show helps gardens
Emily Dickinson, one of America’s earliest poets, died in 1886. She comes to life this weekend in the acclaimed one-woman play, “Belle of Amherst,” performed by professional actress Sinda Nichols.
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Prep Sports Roundup: Schiller throws no-hitter for TC Central
Ryan Schiller threw a no-hitter as TC Central defeated Benzie Central 15-0 in a three-inning softball doubleheader opener. (Plus more)
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Weekend in Brief: 05/17/2013
Do the BBQ; Benzie Players; Garage sale. (Plus more)
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Low-flying helicopters are coming
Don’t worry: the low-flying helicopters buzzing through northern Michigan are not from the United Nations or some secret government agency.
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Nursing home promises to repay Benzie $484K
The Maples nursing home officials told Benzie County leaders they will repay $484,000 the county loaned the facility by March 2014.
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Traverse City Light & Power joins SUN project
Traverse City Light & Power board members approved the final step in implementing a community solar project in partnership with Cherryland Electric Cooperative.
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Sports in Brief: 05/17/2013
Roller derby bouts this weekend; Blue Star hosting baseball tourney; Screening of 'Signals for Survival.' (Plus more)
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Movie Capsules: 05/17/2013
New this week — Star Trek Into Darkness: After the crew of the Enterprise finds an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one-man weapon of mass destruction.
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FINAL: Joliet 5, Traverse City 2
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