Jim Burke
Chief of Police
March 12, 2019
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged Nija Monet Starke, 23, in the fatal shooting of Eugene Jones, Jr., 44, both of Harper Woods. Starke and Jones have a child in common and were living together at the time of the homicide.
On March 10, 2019 at approximately 5:59 a.m., Harper Woods police received a 911 call requesting assistance in the 21400 block of Kingsville in Harper Woods, MI. Upon arrival, Harper Woods police found the defendant in the front room and discovered the victim on the bathroom floor, suffering from a gunshot wound. It is alleged that an altercation escalated and Starke fatally shot the victim. Medics were called to the scene. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
On Wednesday March 13, 2019 NIJA MONET STARKE was arraigned in 32-A District Court in front of the Honorable Judge Daniel S. Palmer and formally charged with:
Count 1: Homicide-Murder First Degree-Premeditated
Count 2: Weapons-Felony Firearm
Judge Palmer set bond at $250,000.00 cash/surety. The Preliminary Examination is scheduled for March 27, 2019 at 1:30 p.m. in 32-A District Court. If convicted, STARKE faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.
