Suspect in May shooting death pleads guilty to murder

City Council approves all mayor's re-appointments
By Dan DuChene
Jun. 16, 2010 · 3:42 a.m.

Jone Coleman, president of downtown business LookInTheAttic, shares his thoughts with City Council about the discussion and procedure taken to pass mayoral re-appointments, which he was being considered for the Downtown Development Authority.

Jone Coleman, president of downtown business LookInTheAttic, shares his thoughts with City Council about the discussion and procedure taken to pass mayoral re-appointments, which he was being considered for the Downtown Development Authority.

After much procedure, Ypsilanti City Council approved six mayoral re-appointments to city boards and committees Tuesday, including the two postponed from earlier...read more

Council postpones two reappointments
By Mark Tower
Jun. 4, 2010 · 4:57 p.m.

Two of Ypsilanti's volunteer board members were not reappointed on schedule Tuesday night, owing to a 4-2 vote by City Council to delay the appointments until...read more

Downtown properties to be rehabilitated
By Mark Tower
Jun. 4, 2010 · 10:40 a.m.

The three properties located at 120, 122 and 124 West Michigan Avenue in downtown Ypsilanti will soon be rebuilt into commercial and office space and loft apartments, thanks to a planned $1.7 million investment by developers.

Three recently-vacated properties in downtown Ypsilanti, two of them condemned, will soon be renovated owing to recent purchase by a local development company and...read more

Ypsilanti Township authorizes litigation against Liberty Square
By Mark Tower
May. 28, 2010 · 6:53 p.m.

Many of the homes in the Liberty Square complex on Grove Street in Ypsilanti Township are already boarded and ready for foreclosure sale. All 151 units, some of which are still occupied, will be condemned Tuesday, Ypsilanti Township has resolved.

Residents living in the Liberty Square complex of townhouses will see a sticker appear on their homes Tuesday, when the Ypsilanti Township Building Department places...read more

Ford plant granted tax exemption by township
By Mark Tower
May. 24, 2010 · 5:44 p.m.

Ford Motor Company's Rawsonville Plan, located at the intersection of Textile and Bridge Roads in Ypsilanti Township, will soon be the new home for production of Ford's Electric Focus batteries, formerly produced in Mexico.

New machines and equipment will soon be wheeled into Ford's Rawsonville Plant in Ypsilanti Township as it begins manufacturing a line of batteries for the new global...read more

Suspect in May shooting death pleads guilty to murder

Daniel Haywood, the 19-year-old Ypsilanti resident who pled guilty to second-degree murder and felony firearm charges in relation to the May shooting death of Cortez Donald, is scheduled for sentencing next month.

Photo by Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office

Daniel Haywood, the 19-year-old Ypsilanti resident who pled guilty to second-degree murder and felony firearm charges in relation to the May shooting death of Cortez Donald, is scheduled for sentencing next month.

Ypsilanti resident faces sentencing for 2nd degree murder, felony firearm charges

By Dan DuChene
Dec. 4, 2009 · 12:50 p.m.

The 19-year-old Ypsilanti resident arrested in the May shooting death of 18-year-old Cortez Donald pled guilty to second-degree murder.

The information is according to a Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office release, which said Daniel Haywood pled guilty to a felony firearm charges in addition to the murder charge.

The release said Haywood could face a minimum of 20 years in prison with the two convictions.

The original incident took place on May 28, near Donald’s home at the 200 block Kirk Street in Ypsilanti Township. After the incident, Washtenaw County Sheriff's Cmdr. Dieter Heren said an ongoing feud between the two different parties led to the shooting. He said the dispute started with an outstanding debt of $40 on an $80 watch owed by Donald’s friend.

“The victim brandished a gun, put away the gun and the other party shot him,” Heren said after the shooting.

Donald was found at the side of his residence and transported to St. Joseph where he was pronounced dead.

Haywood’s sentencing is scheduled for next month.

Two other suspects were arraigned following Donald’s shooting death. All given $2.5 million bonds and charged with open murder and felony weapons charges, 27-year-old Ozell Johnson and 17-year-old Emmanuel Hopkins were arraigned with Haywood three days after Donald was shot to death.

The Citizen has requested more information on Hopkins and Johnson. This story will be updated as soon as information is received.