Senior citizen ‘love triangle’ spurs shootout at Detroit retirement complex that injures four people

Four people were hospitalized after an elderly “love triangle” caused a heated shootout at a Detroit senior citizen apartment complex, according to authorities and reports.

Cops were called to the Sheridan Apartments complex after a senior shot another man in a wheelchair and two others before he was tackled and shot with his own gun during a loud barbecue on Monday, Detroit Police told Fox 2 Detroit.

Although initial reports indicated the shooting was related to a noise complaint, a more personal narrative was revealed Tuesday when residents of the complex said the attack was a result of a heated love triangle between tenants, the outlet reported.

“I’ve been here six years. I know everything that’s going on … [It was a] love triangle. He said he was gonna kill him and that’s what he said he was going to do,” Reginal Ervin, a resident of the complex, told the outlet.

The alleged shooter was upset that his love interest, a 65-year-old woman named “Johnnie,” was dating a new 70-year-old man in a wheelchair, residents told the outlet.

The accused shooter, who is in his early 70s, shot Johnnie’s new boyfriend and two others, neighbors said.

After the shooting, he was tackled and subsequently dropped his gun — leading Johnnie, the woman at the center of the love trinagle, to allegedly pick it up and shoot him in self-defense, the outlet said.

Residents and local police blasted the shootout as a “ridiculous” way to solve personal problems, especially in retirement.

“We’re senior citizens. We’re supposed to retire, we’re supposed to have a good time, drink our daiquiris,” resident Earnest Clark told the outlet. 

Four people were wounded in the shooting but are expected to survive, according to authorities.

No charges have been made for the incident yet, the outlet said.

“This is a shooting so ridiculous in nature that you can’t even explain it,” Detroit Assistant Chief Arnold Williams told the outlet.

“We’re having incidents again where people can’t resolve common issues. You don’t have to resort to a gun because somebody is playing loud music. It is just irrational. You are in your 70s, this should not be what’s going on,” Williams said