GAYELON SPENCER, JR. (circled in red) IS “BUM RUSHED” BY LARGE GROUP OF PARTY-GOERS INCLUDING ARIEL HARRIS AT CLUB EVENT BEFORE SHOOTING.
ARIEL HARRIS (circled in red) WITH CREW (l) ON TIKTOK; HARRIS’ MOTHER ROSALIND HEARST ON FACEBOOK, ALL BRANDISHING ARSENAL OF WEAPONS
Gayelon Spencer, Jr. scheduled for sentencing on 2nd degree murder conviction Thurs. Dec. 19, 2024 at 1 pm in chaotic club scene shooting at the International Center in Greektown Nov. 2o22; conviction Sept. 26, 2024
Motion hearing scheduled at 1 pm prior to sentencing; Spencer asking for new trial due to Detroit cops’ destruction of 2 witnesses’ original statements, violating Brady v. Maryland, Arizona v. Youngblood, other USSC rulings
Mainstream media coverage of shooting was drastically one-sided; included only victim’s family; no interviews of accused or his attorneys
Spencer, acting pro se, filed his motions for a new trial and evidentiary hearing under highly restrictive conditions at Wayne Co. Justice Center Jail
By Diane Bukowski
December 17, 2024
GAYELON SPENCER, JR. (Family photo)
DETROIT– Gayelon Spencer, Jr. is fighting for his life, facing sentencing in front of Wayne 3rd Circuit Court Judge Paul J. Cusick December 19 at 1 pm. on charges of second-degree murder; weapons, carrying concealed; firearm possession by felon; and weapon felony firearm, second offense.
Representing himself, Spencer is expected to argue his motions for a new trial and evidentiary hearing prior to the sentencing at 1 p.m. They allege Detroit police destroyed records of the initial statements given to them by two trial witnesses about the chaotic scene at the International Banquet Center, including one who said that Spencer was attacked by others before the shooting.
“Mr. Spencer’s trial counsel requested disclosure of each oral statement and copy of each written or recorded statement made by witnesses,” Spencer says in his motions. “The State’s Attorney failed to furnish the defense counsel and Mr. Spencer with both Allante Mosley’s and Kreanna Mapp’s audio or video recorded statement, contrary to MCR 6.201(2).”
Gayelon Spencer
Spencer says Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Krystal Murphy “admitted to this Just Court that law enforcement destroyed the video and and audio recorded statements” of the two witnesses, who testified at trial against Spencer.
“I have knowledge that the audio and video recorded statements contained exculpatory evidence, as well as impeachment evidence, due to the fact that Detective Yousseif Berro wrote non-verbatim statements of the statements given by both Allante Mosley and Kreanna Mapp . . .[Mosley] stated that I was asked to take another elevator and when I refused, a commotion started and I was pushed and stumbled toward him where I was pushed again.”
Spencer notes that his trial attorney failed to object to the use of Mosley and Mapp as witnesses at trial, despite the prosecution’s failure to provide their original statements to the police to the defense. He eventually discharged that attorney and opted to represent himself.
Gayelon Spencer on Linked-In network.
Spencer, now 36, graduated from Fannie Richards and Hannaman Elementary Schools, The Academy of Arts and Science, Mackenzie High School, and East Catholic High School. He worked as a Police Cadet at age 14, at the General Motors Building Lakeside, got his truck driving license and drove for GFL Waste Management, and served in the U.S. Army. He founded his two LLC’s, 1600inc and 1600ent, and is the author of a book.
The story was covered across the country, using sensational headlines like, “Detroit man gunned down for holding an elevator for a group of women.” The media interviewed only members of Harris’ grieving family. They made no attempt to portray the entire situation shown in the photo above, or in multiple videos of the confrontation.
Local stations used only photos of Gayelon Spencer Jr. shown exiting the elevator, provided by the Detroit Police Department, and parroted the DPD version of events. This has become the media’s normal practice, in violation of journalistic ethics. It is highly likely that members of Spencer’s jury had seen that coverage,
Wayne County Criminal Justice Center
VOD has reviewed extensive surveillance videos from the scene. They show no evidence that Spencer was trying to keep women from entering the elevator in question. They mainly show that he was “bum rushed” by a group of hostile men, as another man who has seen the videos termed their actions. Unfortunately, Ariel Harris lost his life, and Spencer now faces a sentence of virtual death in prison.
Spencer has been incarcerated since 2022 in both Wayne County jails, at the Frank Murphy complex in downtown Detroit, and now at the new “Detroit Justice Center,” where conditions have been likened to those at the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay. He has told VOD that mail delivery is frequently non-existent and that he has trouble getting copies of his handwritten motions from jail staff. Fortunately, his motions got through to Voice of Detroit. They are linked in full below.
Gayelon Spencer Motion for a New Trial
http://voiceofdetroit.net/wp-content/uploads/Gayelon-Spencer-Motion-for-a-New-Trial.pdf
Gayelon Spencer Letter to Judge Paul Cusick
http://voiceofdetroit.net/wp-content/uploads/Gayelon-Spencer-Letter-to-Judge-Paul-Cusick.pdf
Gayelon Spencer Motion for an Evidentiary Hearing
http://voiceofdetroit.net/wp-content/uploads/Gayelon-Spencer-Motion-for-Evidentiary-Hearing-2.pdf
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