A small group of people gathered outside the home of Delvin Barnes Monday night to express their anger over the arrest of his parents in connection with the fatal shooting of two police officers outside a gas station in western Michigan last week.
A Detroit police detective revealed late Monday that Barnes’ parents were arrested earlier in the day in a Walmart parking lot in the city.
They were detained on a warrant from the Michigan State Police’s Coldwater Post, the Detroit Free Press reported.
“I hope they’re innocent until proven guilty,” Stefanie Thomas, the mother of Barnes, told the paper.
She added, “I just know he was a really good kid. I feel bad for what happened to the family. This is only going to make it worse.”
Thomas said she doesn’t expect her son to be charged, but said, “I’m waiting.”
Andrew Shapiro, an attorney for Delvin Barnes’ parents, told the Free Press that Barnes was transported to the Free Press on Monday evening.
It’s not clear what charges the pair could face if they are convicted of illegally possessing a gun as a minor.
Barnes is being held in a juvenile detention center, police said. His bail has been set at $250,000.
A second suspect, who was reportedly wearing a bulletproof vest when he allegedly opened fire on the two officers outside a gas station in Coldwater, Michigan, has been apprehended and was in custody with Michigan State Police as of Monday night, WTVG reported.
Numerous people gathered outside of the Michigan gas station Monday to show their solidarity with the family of Sergeant Eric Joering and Detective Sam Howard, who were shot to death on March 21.
Several people set a tire on fire and used candles and signs to mourn the officers. Others carried balloons as a sign of goodwill.