Pontiac, MI – A Pontiac man, K’Nique Lawrence, 32, is currently held without bond on multiple charges, including open murder, in connection with the tragic fatal shooting of 16-year-old Desiree Childs on October 28. Another man, 27-year-old Jameel Tanzil, is believed to be involved in the shooting, according to a criminal complaint filed last Friday.
The incident unfolded when Childs was walking with a friend in the area of South Johnson and Menominee in Pontiac shortly before 11:30 p.m. on that fateful Saturday when gunshots erupted. Childs was rushed to the hospital but, tragically, was pronounced dead. Fortunately, her friend was not injured in the incident.
The motive behind the gunfire remains unclear, as officials have not released any information about a possible motive. Reports from last week suggested that investigators did not believe Desiree Childs was the intended target of the shooting.
K’Nique Lawrence is facing charges of open murder, along with two counts of felony firearm and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. His next court appearance is scheduled for November 16. If convicted of the open murder charge, he could potentially face life imprisonment.
It has been disclosed that Lawrence has previous felony convictions, including two counts of armed robbery in 2010 and receiving and concealing stolen property in 2017, according to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.
The involvement of Jameel Tanzil in the case remains unclear at this time. Detectives are actively investigating the matter to determine and identify any additional suspects responsible for Childs’ tragic murder.
Authorities are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the incident or possesses information about the shooting to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP. Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $2,000, and all tipsters can remain anonymous.
