GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Police were just feet away from 31-year-old Tarell Mapp when he was fatally shot in the chest early Sunday morning.
Grand Rapids Police Sgt. John Wittkowksi said officers were called to a strip of businesses on 28th Street SE near Kalamazoo Avenue SE to break up a fight just before 3 a.m. when they heard gunshots ring out from inside one of the businesses.
"As officers entered they were met with a very, very large crowd," Wittkowski explained. "With us going in there essentially outnumbered, so not only do we have to attend to this victim, we have to worry about someone with a gun."
As people flooded out of the building, Wittkowski said officers carried out Mapp, who had been struck by gunfire. Police then attempted live-saving measures, but Mapp was pronounced dead at the scene.
This was the city's 14th homicide this year.
"They’re following up on leads still speaking to witnesses and doing their best to find out who did this," Wittkowski said.
The strip mall at 1850 28th Street SE is filled primarily with auto body shops. Prime Tyme, a hand car wash and detailing business within the strip mall, is where employees from the surrounding businesses say the party occurred on Nov. 2. That specific business had been cited by the city just days prior to the shooting for operating improperly as a nightclub. An investigation by Grand Rapids code enforcement officers led to the zoning citation on Oct. 31.
Back in 2016, when a 21-year-old was shot and killed at the same strip mall, the building's manager said he had allowed an employee to host a birthday party inside one of the then vacant shops, which is now filled by Lupe's Auto Shop.
The manager was not available for comment Monday, but his tenants say they do not believe that was the case for the parties held at Prime Tyme. Wittkowski said this strip mall has been problematic beyond the 2016 shooting.
"We've had multiple calls, multiple disorderly calls, to this address. Is this part of a larger problem? I would say so. If this is a location that is known to the broader public as a place to party after hours, that's an issue," he said.
Police are asking anyone with details to contact GRPD at 616-456-3400 or email at GRPDinfo@grand-rapids.mi.us or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345.
RELATED VIDEO:
Other stories on 13 ON YOUR SIDE:
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.
