Inset: Desaun Travon Ross (Wayne County Jail). Background: The intersection where Ross allegedly killed his girlfriend on Valentine’s Day (Google Maps).
A 31-year-old man in Michigan has been arrested for allegedly killing his girlfriend, fatally shooting the victim in the head on Valentine’s Day and telling authorities that he did it to “stop her from suffering.”
Desaun Travon Ross was taken into custody on Friday and charged with one count of first-degree murder in the slaying of Ebony Robinson, records reviewed by Law&Crime show.
Officers with the Detroit Police Department at about 9:05 a.m. on Feb. 14, responded to a call about shots being fired in the area of Washburn Street and Santa Clara Street, which is on the west side of the city, according to a report from Detroit Fox affiliate WJBK. Upon arriving at the scene, police said they found that the suspect — later identified as Ross — had barricaded himself inside of a home in the area.
Authorities say that Ross had gotten into an argument with Robinson while the couple were inside of Robinson’s car, Detroit NBC affiliate WDIV reported. At some point during the argument, Ross allegedly exited the vehicle and took out a handgun before unloading multiple shots through the driver’s side window, hitting Robinson at least once.
Robinson reportedly attempted to flee from Ross by driving away, but crashed her car into the front porch of a house. That is when Ross allegedly used a rifle to shoot her in the head, killing her, per WDIV. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Following the shooting, authorities say Ross barricaded himself with the firearm inside one of the houses along the intersection. Ross reportedly had a standoff with police during which he remained in the house for several hours before agreeing to come outside, at which point he was immediately taken into custody.
Residents who lived along the block were prevented from returning home or leaving their houses for the duration of the standoff.
“When they said bullets flying I didn’t want to come so they had this thing blocked off right there, so when they said bullets flying I didn’t have a problem with going way out the way,” a woman identified only as “Katrina” told WJBK. “It’s scary, definitely scary. We’ve been here 14 years — lately it’s been a lot of things going on around here.”
Ross made his first appearance in court on Sunday for his arraignment. During the hearing, prosecutors said Ross confessed to the killing, telling authorities he shot Robinson “to stop her from suffering,” WJBK reported. Prosecutors reportedly also told the court that a body-worn police camera captured Ross confessing to the crime.
The judge ordered Ross to remain in detention without bond. He is scheduled to appear in court again for a probable cause conference on Feb. 24.
