Man pleads to attempted assault with intent to kill motorist after drive-by shooter targets Bay City Airbnb

BAY CITY, MI — When a Bay City Airbnb was struck by gunfire from a passing vehicle, a group of young men emerged from the house, armed with guns of their own. They opened fire on a vehicle driving by, mistaking it for the one that had targeted the house they were partying in. All told, police collected more than 30 spent casings, though remarkably, none of the shots struck anyone. One bullet, however, passed through two headrests of the vehicle passing through the scene, narrowly missing the head of the woman driving. Now, one of the men involved has admitted in court to his role in the incident, a decision that will cost him time in prison. Deonte J. Jeffries Jr., 22, on Tuesday, Sept. 8, appeared before Bay County Circuit Judge Joseph K. Sheeran and pleaded guilty to attempted assault with intent to murder, carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent, felony firearm, and two counts of malicious destruction of property valued between $1,000 and $20,000. A felony firearm conviction mandates a minimum two-year prison sentence consecutive with any related term. In exchange for his pleas, Bay County Prosecutor Michael P. Kanuszewski agreed to dismiss five more related charges. Questioned by defense attorney Michael A. Huber, Jeffries said he attended a house party at 1008 21st St. in the early morning hours of Sunday, March 22. An unknown person drove by the house and started shooting at it, Jeffries said. Jeffries and at least three other men armed themselves and stepped onto the house's porch to see what happened. They saw a Chevrolet Trax they assumed was the offending vehicle driving nearby, he said. Two of the others drew their guns and fired at the Trax, while Jeffries ran after it, raised his gun and took aim, he said. The Trax was too far away before he had a chance to shoot, Jeffries said. Jeffries and one of the other men then collected the guns and took them from the house, he said. He admitted he did not know who was driving the Trax he intended to shoot at. 'Were you intending to kill that person?' Sheeran asked Jeffries. 'If I'd discharged it, yes,' Jeffries answered. Jeffries also admitted he had no legal basis to possess the gun. Police reports state the 32-year-old woman who had been driving the Trax said she dropped off a friend at a house on 18th Street, turned onto Jefferson Street, and was heading toward Kosciuszko Avenue when she heard a loud bang, followed by her window shattering. The Trax had a bullet hole in the driver's side mirror, which passed through driver's seat headrest, the passenger seat headrest, and exited the rear passenger window, reports state. Jeffries is the second codefendant in the case to accept a plea deal. Chandler J. Leitermann, 25 of Bay City, on Aug. 19 pleaded guilty to carrying a weapon with unlawful intent, felony firearm, felon in possession of a firearm, and accessory after the fact to a felony. A third codefendant, Donell R. Ruffin Jr., remains charged with assault with intent to murder and eight more counts in Bay County District Court. The fourth codefendant has not been arrested or arraigned on charges related to the incident. Police who responded to the shooting noted eight bullet holes in the siding of the Airbnb house. A house in the adjacent block had been struck by three bullets, one of which entered a bedroom and lodged in a dresser, reports state. Police found 32 spent casings of four different calibers on the party house's porch and in the surrounding streets, reports state. Officers also noted a blue 2013 Chevrolet Equinox parked in the driveway of a neighboring house had been struck by multiple bullets, including one through the windshield on the driver's side, reports state. Police entered the party house and encountered several people. No one reported having been injured, but police noted small amounts of blood on the handles and frames of the doors, reports state. The partygoers told police they heard a barrage of gunfire from the street outside and ducked or scattered for cover. There was a lull of a few minutes, then a second volley from outside, the witnesses told police. They described a dark sedan or SUV heading south from the scene at a high rate of speed, running at least one stop sign, reports state. The witnesses were vague on if anyone from the party had guns or returned fire, reports state. They also claimed not to know who would have targeted their get-together, reports state. A neighbor gave police a photo from his exterior surveillance camera. The photo allegedly showed Jeffries standing at the intersection of 21st and South Jefferson streets, his left arm extended with a pistol in his hand, reports state. Jeffries was still at the party when police arrived. They read him his Miranda rights and detained him in a patrol vehicle. Jeffries said he was inside playing cards when he heard 'bang, bang, bang, bang.' He hit the floor and waited for the shots to end, he said. A second round of gunshots followed minutes later, as if the offending vehicle circled the block to continue firing, he said. Officers asked Jeffries who walked outside with a gun after the drive-by, but Jeffries denied knowing anything about this, reports state. Police arrested Jeffries and lodged him in the Bay County Jail. Judge Sheeran is to sentence Leitermann on Sept. 28 and Jeffries on Oct.19.