(WXYZ) — Michigan State Police say the three men who were found inside a vacant Highland Park apartment last week were shot multiple times.
In an update on Tuesday morning, MSP said, "Members of the homicide task force are continuing to make progress on the investigation of the homicide of three men in Highland Park. It has been determined that the cause of deaths for each of the men was multiple gunshot wounds."
The three men were identified as two rappers and their friend who went missing after their Detroit performance was canceled last month: Armani Kelly, Montoya Givens and Dante Wicker.
According to MSP, investigators believe it was not a random incident and they believe they have determined a motive in the killing.
The investigation also has revealed that this was not a random incident. The investigation is continuing and detectives are making progress and we believe we may have determined a motive. Once more information is developed we will continue to update here. 2/
— MSP Second District (@mspmetrodet) February 7, 2023
State police tweeted about the scene that took place on McNichols and Log Cabin, saying the building was in poor condition and rat-infested, making for slow progress when it came to the identification of the bodies.
Police commissioner Bill Dwyer confirmed a 15-year-old was taken into custody in connection with a missing car in Warren connected to the case. Detroit police said the teen is being held on two felony charges that are not related to this case.
Michigan State Police say there have not been any arrests in the case.
Kelly and Wicker were supposed to perform at Lounge 31 in Detroit on Jan. 21. Givens' family says the 31-year-old rode with Kelly and Wicker with plans to support their performance. Family of the victims say when the show was reportedly canceled, the men were not heard from.
"There’s no way he would not call me. There’s no way and that’s why part of me feels like he is gone, but I don’t know if them bodies (found) are theirs," said Catina Fogle, Givens' mother.
Fogle says throughout the investigation, she has largely been left in the dark with few updates from police. The single mother says she held out hope following the announcement of the bodies found but had a gut feeling her son was among them.
"I'm hoping to God that it's not him and I feel bad for whoever's parent it is, but I don't want it to be my child," Fogle said a few hours before police made a positive identification. "If it is, I got to figure out how I’m going to bury my child."
Givens' brother Phillip said this marks the fourth loss for their family in the last two years. He says he's sad his brother won't get the second chance at life he believes he deserved after coming home from prison.
"Like that other mother said, her son did eight years and didn’t die. My brother did two extra years and didn’t die. For him to come home and get caught up in someone else’s bull crap to get your life taken away," Phillip Givens said.
Montoya Givens' family confirmed he was identified via fingerprints.
"We offer our condolences to their family and friends," MSP wrote in a statement.
