A man from Detroit was found guilty on Wednesday of shooting and killing two individuals and injuring six others during a dispute that initiated over a blocked driveway. Winston Kirtley Jr. was convicted by a jury on two counts of first-degree murder, six counts of assault with intent to murder, and 10 counts of using a firearm during a felony, according to Wayne County prosecutors.
The incident, which resulted in the deaths of Toyake Thirkeild, 39, and Andre Willis, 38, occurred on July 31, 2022. Kirtley, who now faces a mandatory life sentence in prison, testified that he encountered an SUV blocking his driveway around 2:30 a.m. as he was about to go for a workout.
Willis and Thirkeild were inside the vehicle, and Kirtley claimed he requested Willis multiple times to move it. Allegedly, Willis responded by brandishing a gun, prompting Kirtley to arm himself out of fear for his life. Kirtley admitted to firing 16 shots at Willis and Thirkeild, followed by three shots at two other men.
During closing arguments, the defense attorney asserted that Kirtley believed his life was in imminent danger upon seeing Willis with a gun. However, the Assistant Prosecutor countered by stating there was no proof Willis was armed and highlighted that a bullet hit a neighbor’s house before one of the wounded men retaliated by shooting at Kirtley.
Prosecutor James Kehoe condemned the shooting as a deliberate and unprovoked act of violence, emphasizing that Kirtley fired at least 19 shots without valid justification. Sentencing for the case has been set for Sept. 4.
