Shabbat Shootin
Suspect Sought

JILL DAVIDSON SKLAR STAFF WRITER

•

Police composite drawings of the suspects.

aniel O'Malley is looking
for some hot tips on a trail
that has grown cold. The
West Bloomfield detective
still hopes to solve the Dec. 30 in-
cident where two men broke into
the home of an elderly couple,
robbed them and shot their
grandson in the back. The trio
had just finished Shabbat dinner.
The problem at this point is
that Detective O'Malley doesn't
have many new leads, and the
ones he has checked have not led
to the criminals.
"We are still checking out all
of the tips we got and we are still
getting them," he said. "None of
them have panned out."
The armed robbery and shoot-
ing happened after 17-year-old
Scott Kaplan finished dinner at
his grandparent's home near 14
Mile and Orchard Lake roads.
His family left to walk home af-
ter the meal but Scott stayed
back for dessert.
The two thieves kicked in the
front door and ordered Scott and
his grandparents to lie on the
floor as the men searched for
valuables. After being pulled up
by her hair, the grandmother
showed the thieves where she
kept a stash of half-dollar coins.
As the robbers left the house,
one turned and shot Scott in the
shoulder blade. He was taken to
the hospital and released that
evening. He has recovered from
his wound.
Police immediately brought in
a tracking dog which was able to
trace the scent of the robbers to
the edge of the subdivision. A
waiting car may have made for a
quick getaway, police said.
Detective O'Malley also fol-
lowed the trail of tips that poured
in after media coverage of the
crime. Unfortunately, the tips
have not led to the arrest of a sus-
pect. The detective is still seek-

D

Compo.ni
lie .8i Grand River • (313)5314

Extended Showroom hours for your convenience
Mon. and Thurs. 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. • Tues., Wed., Fri. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. • Sat. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

C

A DI LLAc

CREATING', A HIGHER F>IFANL)ARI) (3

A ring that's as unique

and beautiful as she is.

Its rare beauty and unique characteristics make a
diamond the perfect reminder of the one-of-a-kind love
you share. As a jeweler that specializes in
diamonds, Tapper's is also unique. We
have the perfect combination of
rare and beautiful diamonds and
settings, special pricing and
friendly, knowledgeable service.
We guarantee that buying your
diamond ring at Tapper's will be a
satisfying experience.

For value and service

as it should be...

Diamonds
and Fine Jewelry

20

26400 W. 12 Mile Road • Southfield, MI 48034 • 357-5578

911 !

ing people who fit the suspects'
description as well as anyone
spending a large amount of 50-
cent coins.
The gunman is described as
black, 18-20 years of age, 5'10"
and about 145 pounds. He was
wearing black Fila-brand combat
boots and a black hooded sweat-
shirt or coat with "Fila" printed
on the front.
The other thief is believed to
be white, 18-20 years of age, 5'10"
and about 175 pounds. He had
short, medium-blond hair and
was wearing a medium-length
brown leather jacket.
Anyone with information
about the case can call the West
Bloomfield Police Department at
(810) 682-9200.

❑

Delayed Sentence
In Assault Case

JILL DAVIDSON SKLAR STAFF WRITER

wo Oak Park men origi-
nally ticketed for assault
and battery are almost off
the hook.
The men, both associated with
the Lubavitch Jewish communi-
ty, were given the ordinance vio-
lations following a scuffle outside
their synagogue on Dec. 20.
The incident began when stu-
dents in the Lubavitch cheder
housed on the first floor of
Mishkan Israel Nusach H'Ari
synagogue allegedly saw a 13-
year-old boy throw something at
their building. The students,
along with the two adults, ran
from the school room and chased
the boy.
The adults, along with a stu-
dent, reportedly held the boy un-
til police arrived. Words were
exchanged and the boy was
allegedly struck before police ar-
rived on the scene, police said.

