Prosecutor: Man charged in nephew’s homicide
The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office announced charges Wednesday against a man accused of fatally shooting his 16-year-old nephew the day after Thanksgiving.
The homicide took place on Friday on Detroit’s west side. Police responded to a call of a person shot on the 9100 block of Ward — north of Joy Road, east of Schaefer — just before 4:20 p.m.
Authorities say James Lee Graham, 48, got into an argument with his nephew, 16-year-old Freland Pridgen.
While they were arguing, Graham allegedly grabbed a shotgun and fired, striking Pridgen, who was transported to a local hospital but died from his injuries the next day.
Graham faces charges of open murder, felony in possession of a gun, and felony firearm, and is expected to be arraigned at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at Detroit’s 36th District Court.
Pridgen was a high school junior who was in his first year at Henry Ford Academy: School for Creative Studies, principal Curtis Lewis said in a statement.
Lewis described Pridgen as someone who "quickly made many friends and was well-liked by students and staff."
Grief counselors were made available as the school offered students the "opportunity...to circle and pay homage as a village" on Monday.