'He was mad': Witnesses recount Detroit after-hours club shooting

In court on Tuesday, witnesses recalled the moments that led to the after-hours club shooting on Detroit's west side that left three dead and four others wounded.

Like Steven Barnes, who said he was face-to-face with the suspect before being shot — “he was mad, angry," Barnes said of the shooter's eyes. And Miesha Brookins, who said she didn't realize she was shot in the chest, a bullet just barely missing her heart, as she ran through an adjacent field seeking cover. She ran in zig-zags so she was a harder target, she said.

Barnes and Brookins were two of four witnesses who testified during a preliminary examination in 36th District Court about what happened in the early hours of Sept. 27 on Prest Street, when 25-year-old Christopher Gouch "entered the melee" between two women over a missing cellphone at the illicit club, produced a handgun, and fired, authorities allege.

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Witnesses described a brawl that took three different forms:

The first was in what was described as "the dressing room" with a large mirror where women at the party go to fix up. A woman barged in about her missing cellphone, and then a fight between 6 to 7 women ensued.

After witnesses testified the women were kicked outside of the home by Ansley Harris Jr. — who was acting as security for the party and would soon be killed — men inserted themselves in the fighting, and a second brawl began right by the exit. One of those men was Donahvan Gray. He'd also soon be killed.

Then somehow the brawl moved into its third iteration near the grassy area of the home.

Around this time, witness Shawntina Monroe went outside to leave and saw two of her friends beat up, she testified. She started getting jumped, too. Brookins said she saw Gray fighting with some of the guys, including Gouch.

Then, the gunshots. Monroe gets up from the ground and sees Kevin Scott, also known as "Big Mike," dead in front of her. Brookins testified that she saw the shooter stand above Gray and shoot him several additional times, saying "yeah, this what y'all wanted?"

Brookins said he turned toward her and added "yeah, you too, bi--h," and chased her. Brookins said she didn't realize she was shot until later, when the shooting stopped and she went to tend to Gray. She saw that her cousin, Harris, was also killed.

Gouch would end up being charged with three counts of first-degree murder, four counts of assault with intent to murder, and seven counts of felony firearms.

Tuesday's preliminary exam was meant for a judge to decide whether there's enough evidence to proceed to trial. Gouch's preliminary examination didn't end Tuesday and is set to resume with more witness testimonies on Dec. 14.

Andrea Sahouri covers criminal justice for the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at asahouri@freepress.com.

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