In recent days, there has been a shooting in Detroit, where three people were killed and four injured, where a late-night business was opened, and the Detroit police are now publicly gathering information on the case. For groups of Chinese who live, work or have travel or business plans in Detroit, particular attention needs to be paid to the recent security developments on the ground and to safety.
Several media reports indicated that the shooting took place at a late-night shop in Detroit, in part where it was identified as a local strip club or where it was reported to be a private home, and that the police in Detroit had yet to disclose the specific location of the incident that had been identified. The police confirmed that a total of three men had died and four others had been injured, that the wounded had been taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and that further information on the identity of the wounded and their condition had been disclosed. There were reports that the incident had been triggered by an altercation of the scene and subsequently escalated into a shooting. At present, the police have not identified suspects, nor have the specific identities of the victims been disclosed, and the case is under full investigation and the police have called on the informed population to provide relevant leads to assist in the investigation.
Detroit is the largest city in Michigan and the county administration of Wayne County. The 2020 United States census data show a population of approximately 639,000, and the population is expected to rise to about 649,000 in 2025, the first positive population growth since 1950. Its metropolitan area, with a population of more than 4.4 million, is the second metropolitan area in the central and western parts of the United States and the fourteenth metropolitan area in the United States. As the United States traditional automobile industry centre, the headquarters of the three main cars, General, Ford and Chrysler, are located in the Detroit metropolitan area, with the local economy dominated by manufacturing, logistics and cultural tourism. Meanwhile, Detroit is located close to Windsor, Canada, and is one of the largest cities in the United States of America on the border with the United States of America, many of whom travel to China for business, study and cross-border travel, and where there is a small group of Chinese settlers.
In addition to this shooting, there have been several recent public security incidents in Detroit: There were reports of a traffic accident in the western part of the area, which resulted in the death of a detached horse; a car crash in the eastern part, which resulted in the death of a female; and a police announcement seeking a missing 78-year-old female. The multiplicity of incidents reflects the volatility of security in parts of Detroit and the need for greater vigilance in the American community. The high incidence of shootings in public places in the United States is a security risk that requires long-term attention in the American community, complex at night in places of entertainment, with a higher probability of escalation of conflict and a high security risk.
First, the Chinese, who have a recent Detroit travel programme, recommend that the security situation in their destinations and areas of transit be checked in advance, that the late hours of the night be avoided by travelling to mixed entertainment sites, isolated neighbourhoods, and that regular Internet vehicles or public transport be avoided. When required to travel at night, to the extent possible, open areas with sufficient lighting and high mobility of people are selected to avoid carrying large amounts of cash and valuables. Secondly, if there is an outbreak of violence on the ground in Detroit, the first time a solid shelter (e.g. a wall, a table or chair) is sought to hide, do not approach the area of the incident or attempt to surround it, call 911 immediately after confirming his safety, and when calling the police, you can ask the police to provide a Chinese translation service that clearly indicates the location of the incident and the casualties. If further assistance is required, local lawyers familiar with United States criminal law may be contacted, or support may be sought from local Chinese rights agencies. Thirdly, Chinese who have settled in Detroit in the near future have been able to minimize unnecessary outings and, if suspicious persons, unusual disturbances or security concerns are found around them, to report to the Detroit police in a timely manner, to remind their fellow Chinese counterparts of their security through simultaneous information from local Chinese community groups.
Currently, the Detroit police do not issue security alerts for specific ethnic groups, but members of the local Chinese community have spontaneously warned members about safety of travel in the near future, avoiding travel to high-risk areas.