DETROIT, Mich. — A Detroit man is facing murder and assault charges after a violent stabbing on the city’s west side earlier this month left two people dead and two others injured, authorities announced Monday.
Charges Filed Against Suspect
The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that 31-year-old Daiwan Lemane Hopson, of Detroit, has been charged with two counts of First-Degree Murder and two counts of Assault with Intent to Murder.
The charges come after investigators linked him to the August 9 attack that claimed the lives of Martisha Payne, 25, of Detroit, and Jakirea Williams, 31, of Chesterfield Township. Two men — a 31-year-old from Pontiac and a 40-year-old from Detroit — also suffered multiple stab wounds but survived.
What Happened on Fleming Street
Police say the incident unfolded around 9:58 p.m. on August 9 in the 18500 block of Fleming Street. Officers responding to a 911 call arrived to find multiple victims suffering from stab wounds in and around the home.
Medics rushed Payne, Williams, and the 31-year-old male victim to a nearby hospital. Payne and Williams later died from their injuries. The 40-year-old man was taken to a hospital by private vehicle and is expected to recover.
From Argument to Violence
According to prosecutors, the violence began during a verbal altercation in the backyard between Hopson and the 40-year-old victim. The dispute escalated when Hopson allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed the man several times.
Investigators say the fight then spilled into the front yard, where Hopson is accused of stabbing Payne, Williams, and the 31-year-old man before fleeing the scene.
Arrest Made After Investigation
The Detroit Police Department launched an intensive investigation in the days following the attack. Detectives tracked Hopson down and arrested him on August 15, nearly a week after the stabbings.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy’s office called the case a “horrific act of violence that needlessly destroyed lives and devastated families.”
Community in Mourning
The deaths of Payne and Williams have left two families and their communities in grief. Loved ones have taken to social media to remember the victims, describing them as vibrant young people whose lives were cut far too short. Vigils are expected to be held in their memory.
Meanwhile, neighbors in the Fleming Street area say they are shaken by the tragedy. “This should never have happened,” one resident told reporters. “We’re just praying for the families.”
What’s Next in the Case
Hopson remains in custody and is expected to be arraigned this week in 36th District Court. If convicted of first-degree murder, he faces life in prison without parole.
The prosecutor’s office emphasized that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Detroit police are asking anyone who may have additional information about the incident to contact investigators.
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