(WXYZ) – Michigan State Police found three people shot multiple times inside a vacant Highland Park apartment last week.
In an update Tuesday morning, the MSP said, “Members of the Homicide Task Force are making progress on the investigation into the murder of three men in Highland Park. It has been determined that the cause of death for each of the men was multiple gunshot wounds.” Wounds of.”
The three men were identified as the two rappers and their friend who went missing after canceling their Detroit performance last month.
Police found the bodies in the building on Thursday and confirmed on Friday that the bodies were identified as Armani Kelly, Montoya Givens and Dante Wicker.
According to the MSP, investigators believe it was not an accidental incident and believe they have determined a motive in the murder.
It has also been revealed in the investigation that this was not a sudden incident. The investigation is ongoing and detectives are making progress and we believe we may have determined a motive. We will continue to update here as more information develops. 2/
— MSP Second District (@mspmetrodet) February 7, 2023
State police tweeted about McNichols and the scene at the log cabin, saying the building was in poor condition and infested with rats, making slow progress when it came to identifying the bodies.
On Friday afternoon, Michigan State Police confirmed that the bodies were identified as Armani Kelly, Montoya Givens and Dante Wicker.
Police Commissioner Bill Dwyer confirmed that a 15-year-old boy had been taken into custody in connection with a missing car in Warren related to the case. Detroit police said the teen has been held on two misdemeanor charges that are not related to the case.
Michigan State Police say no arrests have been made in the case.
Kelly and Wicker were to perform at Lounge 31 in Detroit on January 21. Givens’ family says the 31-year-old rode with Kelly and Vicker with plans to support his performance. The families of the victims say the men were not heard when the show was reportedly cancelled.
Givens’ mother, Katina Fogle, said, “There’s no way he’s not going to call me. There’s no way and so a part of me feels like he’s gone, but I don’t know if those bodies[were]found. ) belong to them or not.”
Fogle says that throughout the investigation, she has been largely left in the dark with few updates from police. The single mother says she had given up hope after the bodies were announced, but she still knew her son was among them.
“I’m hoping to God it’s not him and I feel bad for anyone’s parent, but I don’t want it to be my child,” Fogle said hours before police positively identified him. he said. “If that’s the case, I need to figure out how I’m going to bury my baby.”
Givens’ brother Philip said it was the fourth loss for their family in the past two years. He says that while he is sad that his brother will not get a second chance in life, he believes that he deserved to come home from jail.
“As the other mother said, her son did eight years and didn’t die. My brother did an additional two years and didn’t die. For him to come home and get caught up in someone else’s bull shit took his life Lee” said Philip Givens.
The family of Montoya Givens confirmed that he had been identified through his fingerprints.
“We express our condolences to his family and friends,” the MSP wrote in a statement.
Police say the investigation is still ongoing, and the cause and motive of death are unknown at this time. The autopsy has been delayed due to cold outside temperatures but is expected to be completed in the coming days.
The Michigan State Police is leading the investigation, and they are cooperating with the Detroit Police Department, Highland Park Police Department and Warren Police Department.
Anyone with information on this case is asked to call 1-800-SPEAK-UP or 1-855-MICHTIP.
Montoya Givens’ family founded GoFundMe To help cover funeral expenses.
