Farmington Hills Hookah Lounge Tried Covering Up Shooting: Police

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI — A Farmington Hills business owner and several of its employees were accused by police of cleaning up and concealing evidence of a shooting that left two people injured inside the building, Farmington Hills Police Chief Jeff King said Wednesday during a news conference.

Vibe Hookah Lounge owner Amar Sinawi was arrested and charged with one count of tampering with evidence and one count of lying to a police officer, King said. Several of his employees were also accused of tampering with evidence by authorities and face several charges, including tampering with evidence at the crime scene.

King said on Jan. 29 a 17-year-old boy gave a gun to 28-year-old Devonte Johnson from Detroit inside the lounge at 2:00 a.m. Johnson then confronted another man inside the lounge and hit him in the back of the head, before another victim stepped in to help stop the attack, King said.

That’s when King said Johnson pulled out the gun and shot both the men inside the lounge. After shooting the two men, Johnson gave the gun back to the 17-year-old and the two fled the lounge, officials said.

King said both victims were treated and released from a local hospital.

Johnson was arrested on Feb. 2 and faces several charges, including two counts of aggravated assault, King said. Oakland County prosecutors issued a juvenile petition for the 17-year-old from Wayne County and charged him with one count of carrying a concealed weapon and one count of accessary after the fact.

King said there could be additional charges as police continue to investigate the shooting.