LANSING, Mich. - The Kalamazoo man who on May 9 fatally shot Lawrence McDonald on Lansing's east side fled the scene before deciding to return — a decision police said touched off a fresh outburst of violence.
Michael Burton shot and killed McDonald outside a home in the 700 block of Cleveland Street just after 7 a.m., police have said.
Speaking at a hearing that led to murder and other charges against Burton, Lansing Police Detective Michael Looney said a bystander was the first to arrive after the shooting.
The bystander saw McDonald lying in the driveway — injured but still alive — when Burton returned in a silver sedan.
Burton, 32, threatened the bystander, then "gets out of the vehicle and walks up to the victim, who is already shot (and) on the ground, and kicks him in the head," Looney said.
Lansing police officer Dillon Reust arrived moments later, just in time to see Burton again speeding away in the silver car.
Reust briefly chased Burton before returning to the scene of the shooting, where he found McDonald still lying on the driveway, asking for help.
"He shot the shit out of me," McDonald told the officer.
When Reust asked who, McDonald responded, "Michael, her ex."
McDonald, 27, later died at a local hospital.
A chase, a carjacking and another chase
Meanwhile, an officer with another law enforcement agency overheard the police radio traffic about a chase and spotted Burton's silver sedan while on his way to work in Mason.
Major Darin Southworth, with the Ingham County Sheriff's Office, saw Burton's vehicle drive southbound onto U.S. 127 near the Frandor Shopping Center.
He gave chase, and about four miles later, near the Interstate 96 interchange, Southworth came across "a big flume of dust, cloud of smoke, debris (and) dirt in the air," Looney said.
Witnesses told police Burton crashed his car after sideswiping another vehicle.
Other drivers pulled over to assist, at which point Burton tried opening the car doors of vehicles driven by people who had pulled over to help, Looney said.
Burton pointed a gun at one driver, a 69-year-old man, but the man fought back, Looney said.
Burton and the motorist wrestled for a few moments before the man took control of the gun from Burton. Then Burton hopped in the man's minivan and drove away.
The man heard the "gun click a couple times" during the struggle, but never heard a shot, Looney said. He suffered minor injuries in the confrontation, police have said.
Michigan State Police later spotted Burton driving the minivan eastbound on I-96, then on U.S. 23, in Livingston County. They arrested him after forcing the vehicle off the road, Looney said.
Burton is charged with one count each of murder and carjacking, two counts of fleeing police and three weapons charges. His next court hearing is set for May 25.
Contact Christopher Haxel at 517-377-1261 or chaxel@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisHaxel.
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the WZZM 13 app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@wzzm13.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter.
