Man convicted in killings of 2 gay men, transgender woman

A 19-year-old Detroit man has been convicted of gunning down two gay men and a transgender woman who authorities believe were targeted because of their sexual orientation last year following a house party.

A Wayne County jury convicted Devon Kareem Robinson on Tuesday of first-degree premeditated murder, assault with intent to murder and felony firearm in the killings of 21-year-old Alunte Davis, and 20-year-olds Timothy Blancher and Paris Cameron, The Detroit News reported.

Robinson could face life behind bars without the possibility of parole when he is sentenced April 13 for the May 2019 killings.

Prosecutors said Davis and Blancher were gay men and Cameron was a transgender woman and they and police believe the victims were targeted for their sexual orientation.

The three victims were slain in the living room of a Detroit home following a party attended by about 15 people. Robinson allegedly shot and wounded two other people inside that house.

A survivor testified about the shooting’s horrific details during a preliminary examination in November, saying that there were so many bullets fired that the victims’ blood had seeped through the walls.

Robinson’s attorney, Evan Callanan Jr., said during a November hearing that there was no evidence against his client, calling prosecutors’ allegations against Robinson “a fanciful theory.”