Man Charged With Murder In Grand Blanc Teen Slaying: Police

DETROIT — A 23-year-old Westland man was charged with murder after police said he killed a Grand Blanc teen and stole his gun.

Avion Sanders was charged with one count of first-degree murder, one count of felony murder, one count of larceny, one count of felony in possession and three counts of felony firearm, the Wayne County Prosecutor's office announced Friday.

Officials said Sanders met 18-year-old Jacob Hills at a party in Detroit on July 25. Hills decided to bring his gun, a new AR-15, which Sanders said he wanted to buy from him, officials said.

Hills left with Sanders to a Detroit home on the 22330 block of West Warren Avenue in Detroit, officials said. The two then went into the basement, where officials said Sanders shot Hills multiple times, killing him.

Sanders then left the basement and stole Hills' gun and car, which was later found abandoned at a hookah lounge on the 6120 block of North Telegraph Road in Dearborn Heights, officials said.

Police then found Hills dead in the Detroit home's basement the next morning, officials said.

"Defendant Sanders and Mr. Hills went into the basement of the home, but only the defendant exited the home," according to the release. "It is alleged that Defendant Sanders killed the victim, stole his rifle, and abandoned the victim’s car at the Dearborn Heights hookah bar and fled."

Sanders was previously charged with multiple crimes in October 2020 after police said he fired shots at his girlfriend and then barricaded himself with their young daughter at a Taylor apartment complex.

Sanders' bond was originally set at $200,000, but by the time he was eventually found guilty of assaulting, resisting and obstructing police in September 2021, it was lowered to just $50,000, according to a report from The Detroit News. A bench warrant was issued for his arrest in February after he skipped his sentencing date, the report said.