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Pontiac Man Charged with Murder of Lyft Driver

(OCSO, Oct. 25, 2022)

Pontiac, MI –  A Pontiac man accused of fatally shooting a Lyft driver was arraigned today on a felony charge that could send him to prison for life.

Kemarrie Davion Phillips, 19, is being held without bond in the Oakland County Jail after his arraignment before 50th District Court Judge Cynthia Walker. Phillips is charged in Friday’s shooting death of Dina Terrell, 49, of Eastpointe.

“This is shocking and violent tragedy,” Sheriff Michael Bouchard said. “This poor victim is lost to her loving family, and the responsible person should be held fully accountable. Random violence will never be tolerated.”

The incident happened early Friday. Deputies were dispatched at approximately 5:15 a.m. to what was reported as an injury accident at the corner of Putnam and Rundell in Pontiac. Upon their arrival Deputies saw a gray Nissan automobile on the curb wedged between a utility pole and a street sign. They found Terrell in the front seat with a gunshot wound to her head. She was taken to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Detectives found the victim’s cellphone and a Lyft app was running with directions to an address on the northeast side of Pontiac. Additional evidence was found by Detectives and a K-9 search near Hollywood and South Merrimac. Detectives were able to identify Phillips as a suspect and took him into custody without incident. He had been employed at a retail store in Rochester Hills stocking shelves but left his job recently and was not employed.

Phillips is to appear before 50th District Court Judge Ronda Gross on Nov. 3 for a probable cause conference and Nov. 10 for a preliminary examination. A conviction on the murder charge carries up to life in prison. He is also charged with possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

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