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June 10, 2005
DETROIT VS HUNTINGTON: Detroit Newspaper Story Portrays Grisly Prom Night Murder Scene Through Eyes
of Man Who Lived on the 3rd Floor; Compares Stereotypes of Detroit, Huntington
by Tony Rutherford
Huntington News Network Writer
Huntington (HNN) — According to an article appearing in the Wednesday, June
8, 2005, Detroit Free Press, Huntington has finally united behind a worthy
cause: "Black or white, young or old, rich or poor, Huntington is united in
its hatred of Detroit criminals infiltrating their town."
The article by Amber Hunt Martin reveals details of the May 22, 2005 prom
night slaughter that have yet to be published. In fact, word of warning:
Don't read further or click on the provided link if you're faint of heart.
Martin spoke with Damon Core, 39, who lived on the third floor of the
Charleston Avenue residence where the teens were murdered. When the shots
awoke at 4:30 a.m. that morning, he came downstairs to find Eddrick Clark
"writhed on the sidewalk, moaning and gurgling blood."
Megan Poston was lying face down five feet away, already dead. Her prom
dress and high heels nearby. Her date, Michael Dillon, was sprawled next to
the driveway. About the time Core reached the scene, Donte Ward "gasped his
last breath" on the front lawn.
However, Core finds himself uncomfortable now in Huntington. He's originally
from Detroit. He came to the West Virginia city to get away from the Motor
City's high crime rate. Now, he worries about "the looks" when someone
learns he's from Detroit.
The article gives some credence to the so-called Detroit connection: Between
January 2004 and May 2005, Huntington police arrested 61 individuals with
Detroit addresses on 130 mostly drug related charges. Rapes, the Wendy
Morgan slaying and kidnappings have been linked to Detroit's dealers.
However, just as Detroit residents are sensitive to "Crack City U.S.A." and
"Murder City" labels, the article suggests that residents of West Virginia's
largest city go out of their way to counter rural stereotypes. Thus while
Detroiters deal with the 'bad guy' image, she describes downtown Huntington
as "a balance of city hustle and laid back southern drawl" with an arena,
three theatres ( actually four, she did not count Marquee at Pullman Square)
, football stadium, and the modern day crack cocaine vice.
To read more of the article, click:
http://www.freep.com/news/locway/huntington8e_20050608.htm
