EASTPOINTE (WXYZ) — An Eastpointe family devastated and terrorized after someone walked into their yard and opened fire on their Fourth of July celebration, and it happened in broad daylight.
One man is dead. His family left grieving and wondering.
The family of 42-year-old Gerry Griffith's family is devastated, they are also terrified because his murderer is still on the loose. Griffith loved hosting holiday family events, his stepdaughter Jaqueline Willis says.
"He wanted everyone at the house all the time because he just loved to be around people," Willis said. "He loved to make people laugh, he was literally the life of the party. He was such a fun, fun, good man."
Around 1:15 in the afternoon on the Fourth of July,Griffith was hosting a barbeque for family and friends in the back yard of his Eastpointe home on Ridgecraft.
"He went inside to grab some more hotdogs and stuff to put on the grill, when he came out the side door the gunman was right there," Willis said.
Eastpointe police say someone with a long gun opened fire, fatally shooting Griffith and injuring another woman.
"From our side widow, they shot inside of the house," Willis said. "They aimed at my little brother, he said the green light was going around his face."
Then the shooter fled. Gerry Griffith's family is devastated.
"I'm just trying to be strong for my little brother and my mother," Willis said. "It’s hard, that was the love of her life, so she’s not doing too well. She didn’t sleep last night, I heard her weeping all night."
Police are reviewing surveillance video and family is asking anyone with information to speak up.
"I need justice for him," Willis said. "My mother needs to be able to lay her head down at night peacefully, knowing the killer is locked away. My little brother is afraid to go outside. He’s terrified of every single car that comes down the street."
A GoFundMe page has been set up here.
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