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Dejuan Pettis

Gender : Male

Age : 36

Race : Black

Date : 09/30/2024

Location : Schoenherr Road and Prospect Avenue

City : Warren

County : Mahoning

State : Michigan

Agency : Warren Police Department

Officer(s) :James Burke

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Two bystanders killed by speeding police vehicle

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

In the early morning hours of September 30, 2024, at approximately 5:00 a.m., Warren Police Officer James Burke crashed into a Dodge Durango at high speed. The vehicle, driven by Cedric Hayden Jr. and carrying his lifelong best friend DeJuan Pettis, was struck while turning left onto Prospect Avenue. Both Hayden and Pettis were killed instantly.
Crash reconstructionists described the impact as violent, launching the Durango airborne for more than 50 feet before it flipped. Officer Burke and his partner, who was riding in the patrol SUV, were both injured but survived.
The investigation determined that Officer Burke had been traveling at speeds exceeding 115 to 117 miles per hour without emergency lights or sirens activated, was not engaged in any pursuit, and had no valid reason for his speed at the time of the crash.
Officer Burke was terminated from the Warren Police Department in December 2024 and initially arraigned on multiple charges, including two counts of manslaughter with a motor vehicle (15-year felonies), one count of moving violation causing serious impairment of a bodily function (misdemeanor), and willful neglect of duty (misdemeanor). A preliminary hearing concluded on August 15, 2025, during which Judge John Chmura determined there was sufficient evidence that Burke’s conduct was grossly negligent and that his actions caused the deaths, binding the case over to Circuit Court for trial. Burke is scheduled to be arraigned in Macomb County Circuit Court on September 2, 2025, with a jury trial expected to follow soon afterward. A $100 million lawsuit has been filed on behalf of the families against the Warren Police Department alleging negligence.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/ex-warren-police-officers-prelim-continues-crash-killed-2-men
https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2025/08/15/former-warren-officer-in-crash-that-killed-2-bound-over-to-stand-trial
https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/former-warren-police-officer-fatal-crash-stand-trial
https://www.macombgov.org/departments/prosecutors-office/warren-police-officer-arraigned-manslaughter-charges-connection
https://www.candgnews.com/news/officer-in-fatal-policeinvolved-crash-will-stand-trial-8958