>> Announcer: LIVE FROM DOWNTOWN
DETROIT, HOME OF WDIV AND CLICK
ON DETROIT.
LOCAL 4 NEWS AT 5:00 STARTS NOW!
>> Shawn: ABSOLUTELY
HEARTBREAKING!
AN 11-YEAR-OLD BOY HIT AND
KILLED AS HE WAS RUNNING FOR
HELP HERE IN VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP.
>> Priya: STATE ASSESSMENT
SCORES HAVE COME IN AND THERE’S
A DECLINE IN ALMOST EVERY GRADE
LEVEL!
EXPERTS ARE WEIGHING IN ON
STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC HEALTH DURING
THE PANDEMIC.
>> Kim: SHE CALLED IT A DARK DAY
FOR HER OFFICE, PUSHING TO
DISMISS THE CASE FOR AN ARSON
THAT KILLED FIVE PEOPLE.
>> Devin: THE HOUSE FIRE KILLED
FIVE CHILDREN BACK IN THE YEAR
2000.
IN 2006, JUWAN DEERING WAS
CONVICTED OF MURDER BUT
REPEATEDLY DECLARED HIS
INNOCENCE.
15 YEARS LATER, PROSECUTORS WANT
HIS LIFE SENTENCE THROWN OUT.
ROD MELONI JOINS WUSS MORE ON
WHY McDONALD’S OFFICE WANTS
DEERING TO GET A NEW TRIAL.
>> Rod: IT’S ALL BECAUSE OF THIS
REPORT, A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR’S
REPORT PUT OUT TODAY THAT SAID
THIS CASE AMOUNTED TO
PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT AND IT
WAS THIS SET OF PICTURES SHOWN
TO A WITNESS THAT NEVER MADE
NIGHT THE TRIAL AND THAT IS
AGAINST THE LAW.
THIS IS JUWAN DEERING, NOW 50
YEARS OLD AND SPENT THE LAST 15
YEARS IN PRISON AND MAY SOON
LEAVE THE PENITENTIARY IN THE
UPPER PENINSULA.
THIS IS WHAT HE LOOKED LIKE IN
COURT.
FIVE CHILDREN PERISHED IN THESE
FLAMES.
IT TOOK 6 YEARS TO GET AN ARREST
AND THE CASE TO COURT.
AND NOW, ALL THEY’RE YEARS
LATER, OAKLAND COUNTY PROSECUTOR
SAID OF HIS CONVICTION...
>> THIS IS A DARK DAY FOR THIS
OFFICE AND WE HAVE STRUGGLED
WITH IT AND COMMITTED TO MAKING
SURE THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.
>> Rod: WHEN SHE HEARD ABOUT THE
CASE, SHE BECAME CONCERNED AND
TURNED IT OVER TO A SPECIAL
PROSECUTOR.
ONE OF THE CHILDREN STATED THE
PERP HE SAW OR HEARD ON THE
PORCH THAT NIGHT BEFORE THE
FLAMES ENGULFED THE PLACE WAS
NOT JUWAN DEERING, VIDEO THAT
NEVER MADE IT TO THE DEFENSE OR
THE JURY.
THE INNOCENCE PROJECT SAID HE
SPENT FIVE YEARS TRYING TO MAKE
THIS HAPPEN.
>> THIS IS ONE OF THE WORST
INSTANCES OF HIDING FAVORABLE
EVIDENCE THAT I’VE EVER COME
ACROSS IN 11 YEARS OF DOING
THIS.
>> Rod: THE MICHIGAN STATE
POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING,
PARTICULARLY THE ARSON PART THAT
SAID THE FIRE STARTED OUTSIDE
THE HOME.
THERE’S ANOTHER CORNER OF THIS
CASE OF DEEP CONCERN, AND THAT
IS THE USE OF JAILHOUSE
INFORMANTS.
THERE WERE THREE OF THEM.
THE CLAIM IS THEY WERE USED
REGULARLY BY THE OAKLAND COUNTY
SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT AND THE
PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE WHEN IT’S
LIKELY THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN
USED BECAUSE THE CLAIM THEY SAID
THEY DIDN’T GET ANYTHING IN
RETURN FOR THEIR TESTIMONY AND
THAT’S CATEGORICALLY FALSE.
WE EXPECT PAPERWORK TO BE FILED
TOMORROW MORNING TO GET JUWAN
OUT OF PRISON.
>> Devin: ARE THERE ANY OTHER
INVESTIGATIONS INTO THIS CASE?
>> Rod: YES, THERE’S ANOTHER ONE
BY THE OAKLAND COUNTY SHERIFF’S
DEPARTMENT.
THEY HAVE AN INTERNAL
INVESTIGATION AND WHAT THEY HAVE
HAS BEEN TURNED OVER TO MICHIGAN
STATE POLICE.
THEY SAY THEY CAN’T GIVE OUT
WHAT THEY KNOW UNTIL THE
MICHIGAN STATE POLICE FINISH
THEIR INVESTIGATION AND THERE IS
NO TIME FRAME ON WHEN THE MSP IS
GOING TO DO THAT.
>> Devin: NOW THE NEWS MANY
PARENTS WERE DREADING, NEW TEST
SCORES FROM THE STATE SHOW
SIGNIFICANT LEARNING LOSS DURING
THE PANDEMIC.
>> Kim: RESULTS DROPPED FOR
EVERY GRADE TESTED IN MATH AND
SOCIAL STUDIES AND MOST IN
READING.
THE GREATEST DECLINE IS SIXTH
GRADE MATH DOWN 6 1/2 PERCENTAGE
POINTS FROM 2019.
EDUCATORS SAY THEY WERE
EXPECTING THIS.
>> Priya: I MEAN, IT’S NO
SURPRISE CONSIDERING THE FACT
THAT THE PANDEMIC UPENDED
STUDENTS’ LIVES.
BUT THE RESULTS ARE TROUBLING.
EXPERTS SAY THERE ARE MANY
STUDENTS, IT’S CLEAR THAT
THEY’RE STRUGGLING.
>> EVERY EDUCATOR RIGHT NOW
KNOWS THERE ARE STUDENTS THAT
REALLY NEED QUITE A BIT OF
SUPPORT RIGHT NOW.
>> Priya: THE SCORES SHOW THE
PANDEMIC HAS TAKEN ITS TOLL.
SCORES HAVE DIPPED SINCE 2019.
>> WHAT ANY GIVEN STUDENT DEALT
WITH WAS NOT A ONE SIZE FITS ALL
ISSUE THAT A STANDARDIZED TEST
IS DESIGNED TO SHOW.
>> Priya: DECLINES IN NEARLY
EVERY GRADE.
STANDARDIZED TESTS ARE NOT SAID
TO BE A RELIABLE METER.
>> THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO
VALLEYS THAT IT’S A SNAPSHOT OF
STUDENTS THAT WERE IN A
COMPLETELY FOREIGN AND NEVER
BEFORE SEEN ACADEMIC
ENVIRONMENT.
>> Priya: LAST YEAR, THE M-STEP
WAS OPTIONAL AND MORE LIKELY TO
BE IN DISTRICTS WITH HYBRID
LEARNING AND LESS LIKELY TO BE
STUDENTS OF COLOR OR ENGLISH
LEARNERS.
>> WE WON’T KNOW WHAT ANY GIVEN
CHILD NEEDS TO GET BACK ON A
PATH TO SUCCESS UNTIL WE BEGIN
WORKING ONE-ON-ONE WITH THEM AND
ASK THEM, HOW ARE YOU DOING, AND
WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP YOU?
>> Priya: EDUCATORS SAY THERE’S
ONE SILVER LINING, BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS IN RELIEF MONEY THAT HAS
GONE TO SCHOOLS TO HELP WITH WE
LEAF PROGRAMS FOR MENTAL HEALTH
AND TUTORING, WILL BE AVAILABLE
FOR THE NEXT 2-3 YEARS.
THAT’S ONE SHOT AT BILLIONS IN
RELIEF MONEY, BUT THAT COULD
MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE AND
BRIDGE THE GAP WE’VE SEEN OVER
THE PAST YEAR.
REPORTING LIVE TONIGHT, I’M
PRIYA MANN, LOCAL 4.
>> Devin: SAYING HE REFUSED TO
OPEN ANOTHER DECADE OF WAR IN
AFGHANISTAN, PRESIDENT BIDEN IS
MARKING THE END OF AMERICA’S
LONGEST WAR.
AS THE FINAL FLIGHTS TOOK OFF
FROM THE AIRPORT IN KABUL, THE
TALIBAN CELEBRATED.
[GUNFIRE]
>> Devin: THERE’S STILL ABOUT
200 AMERICANS LEFT IN THE
COUNTRY, ALICE BARR HAS MORE ON
PRESIDENT BIDEN’S DETERMINATION
TO STICK TO THE PULLOUT
DEADLINE.
>> Reporter: PRESIDENT BIDEN
SAID IT’S IN AMERICA’S NATIONAL
SECURITY INTEREST AND SHOULD
MARK AN END TO THE ERA TO REMAKE
OTHER COUNTRIES.
[GUNFIRE]
>> Reporter: SNAPSHOTS FROM THE
ENDS OF A 20-YEAR WAR.
IT’S THE FINAL DIPLOMAT CARRYING
THE AMERICAN FLAG AS TALIBAN
MILITANTS CELEBRATE IN THE
STREETS AND COMB THROUGH ALL THE
EQUIPMENT LEFT BEHIND.
PRESIDENT BIDEN ADDRESSING THE
NATION TODAY.
>> WE SUCCEEDED.
AND WE STAYED FOR ANOTHER
DECADE.
IT WAS TIME TO END THIS WAR.
>> Reporter: THE PRESIDENT FACES
FIERCE CRITICISM FOR THE DEADLY
CHAOS OF THE FINAL DAYS IN
AFGHANISTAN AND FOR STICKING
WITH HIS TIME LINE DESPITE
LEAVING AS MANY AS AS 200
AMERICANS BEHIND AND THOUSANDS
OF AFGHANS WHO WORKED ALONGSIDE
THE U.S.
>> I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR WHAT I SEE AS
THE BIGGEST FAILURE IN AMERICAN
GOVERNMENT ON A MILITARY STAGE
IN MY LIFETIME!
>> Reporter: PRESIDENT BIDEN
CALLED IT A SUCCESS THAT BROUGHT
MORE THAN 124,000 PEOPLE TO
SAFELY, AND SAID HE WOULD WORK
TO GET EVERYONE OUT AND
INSISTING THAT AMERICA IS BETTER
OFF.
>> I FIRMLY BELIEVE THE BEST
PATH TO GUARD OUR SAFETY AND OUR
SECURITY LIES IN A TOUGH
UNFORGIVING TARGETED PRECISE
STRATEGY THAT GOES AFTER TERROR
WHERE IT IS TODAY.
>> Reporter: THE PRESIDENT
HONORING THE 13th U.S. SERVICE
MEMBERS KILLED OUTSIDE THE KABUL
AIRPORT, THE FALLEN JOINING MORE
THAN 2400 U.S. TROOPS LOST IN A
BLOODY CONFLICT THAT’S ENDING
HOW IT BEGAN WITH THE TALIBAN IN
CONTROL OF AFGHANISTAN AGAIN.
PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS BEEN
COUNTING ON HAVING AMERICAN
PUBLIC OPINION ON HIS SIDE OVER
HIS DECISION TO LEAVE
AFGHANISTAN.
A NEW POLL SHOWS THE MAJORITY OF
AMERICANS SUPPORT THE WITHDRAWAL
BUT DO NOT GIVE HIGH MARKS FOR
HOW HE HAS HANDLED IT.
>> Devin: I MENTIONED 200
AMERICANS AWAITING PASSAGE BUT
THAT’S NOT ALL AMERICANS.
THE PRESIDENT’S ADMINISTRATION
REACHED OUT TO AMERICANS
OFFERING TO HELP THEM LEAVE, BUT
THERE ARE AROUND 5,000 WHO
DECIDED TO STAY.
>>> NEW INFORMATION IN A DEADLY
CRASH IN VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP.
WE’VE LEARNED AN 11-YEAR-OLD BOY
WAS KILLED ON HIS WAY TO SCHOOL.
>> Kim: JUST AWFUL!
IT HAPPENED THIS MORNING WHEN
HIS MOTHER’S CAR BROKE DOWN ON
MICHIGAN AVENUE AT DENTON ROAD.
SHAWN LEY IS THERE TONIGHT.
THIS IS JUST HEARTBREAKING!
>> Shawn: ABSOLUTELY
HEARTBREAKING!
AND THIS 11-YEAR-OLD WAS RUNNING
ACROSS MICHIGAN AVENUE THEY
BELIEVE TO GET HELP FOR HIS MOM
AND YOUNGER SISTER.
>> IT MADE ME COME OUT OF A DEEP
SLEEP AND SIT STRAIGHT UP
BECAUSE THERE WERE SO MANY
POLICE AND FIRE AND AMBULANCE
COMING DOWN OUR ROAD.
IT WAS SO LOUD IT MADE ME SIT
STRAIGHT UP.
>> Shawn: WHEN THIS NEIGHBOR
HEARD RESCUE CREWS SPEEDING BY
HER HOME, SHE KNEW A TRAGEDY WAS
UNFOLDING.
>> I KNEW SOMETHING BAD
HAPPENED.
>> Shawn: IT WAS 6:20 THIS
MORNING.
A 34-YEAR-OLD MOM FROM YPSILANTI
TOWNSHIP WAS DRIVING HER
11-YEAR-OLD SON AND 9-YEAR-OLD
DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL.
THEIR CAR BROKE DOWN IN THE
TURNAROUND LANE ON MICHIGAN
AVENUE NEAR DENTON.
MOM AND KIDS WERE OUT OF THE CAR
AND IT WAS DARK.
THE DISABLED CAR HAD NO LIGHTS.
A 61-YEAR-OLD MAN TRIED TO MAKE
THE MICHIGAN LEFT, DIDN’T SEE
THE CAR OR MOTHER OR KIDS AND
HIT THE CAR.
MOM AND DAUGHTER SUFFERED CUTS
AND SCRAPES FROM THE IMPACT.
POLICE TELL US HER 11-YEAR-OLD
SON RAN ACROSS MICHIGAN AVENUE
WHEN HE WAS STRUCK AND KILLED BY
A GMC PICKUP.
POLICE THINK HE MAY HAVE BEEN
RUNNING HOME TO TELL HIS DAD
ABOUT THE ACCIDENT WHEN HE WAS
HIT.
>> IT’S HORRIFIC!
BREAKS MY HEART.
IT’S UPSETTING THAT A LITTLE BOY
LOST HIS LIFE.
IT’S SAD.
>> Shawn: SAD INDEED.
WE KNOW THAT MOM AND DAUGHTER
WERE TAKEN TO MICHIGAN MEDICINE
TO GET CHECKED OUT.
POLICE WILL CHECK ON THEM VERY
SOON.
WE’RE THINKING OF THEM AND THAT
FAMILY TONIGHT.
ALL DRIVERS INVOLVED IN THE
CHAIN-REACTION CRASH STOPPED AND
ARE COOPERATING WITH POLICE.
>> Kim: SHAWN, THANKS.
>> Devin: MUCH MORE TO COME ON
LOCAL 4 NEWS AT 5:00.
>> Hank: I’M ONE-ON-ONE WITH
MICHIGAN’S ATTORNEY GENERAL AND
THE CHANGES SHE WOULD LIKE TO
SEE DTE AND CONSUMERS ENERGY
MAKE IF WE LOSE POWER ONCE
AGAIN.
>> Andrew: I’M METEOROLOGIST
ANDREW HUMPHREY.
WE HAVE SUNSHINE, CLOUDS, WARM
CONDITIONS AND STILL
COMFORTABLE.
CAN THIS CONTINUE THE REST OF
THE WEEK?
I’VE GOT THE ANSWER COMING UP AS
WELL AS A NEW TROPICAL
DEPRESSION IN YOUR WEATHER
FORECAST.
>> Devin: ALL RIGHT, ANDREW.
A HUNDRED DAYS INTO HIS
DETAINMENT IN MYANMAR, HIS
FAMILY HAS CONCERNS ABOUT HOW
HE’S DOING.
>> Reporter: THE LATEST ON THE
AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE IDA AND
THE LONG ROAD TO RECOVERY.