Trial date set for Detroit man charged in murder of prominent neurosurgeon
Desmond Burks, 34, appeared in court Thursday for a formal arraignment after being bound over for trial last week. Burks will head to trial on Jan. 5, 2026.
Burks is charged with first-degree premeditated murder, felony murder, larceny of over $20,000, using a computer to commit a crime, possession of a firearm by a felon, and three counts of felony firearm second offense.
Hoover was found shot in the head and wrapped in a blanket in the attic of his Boston-Edison neighborhood home on April 23, 2023, after police conducted a wellness check at the residence.
An autopsy in May 2023 revealed Hoover was shot twice in the back of the head.
Burks was identified as a person of interest early in the investigation and was charged in August 2024. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said the investigation was complicated because many witnesses were reluctant to come forward with sensitive and personal information.
Following Hoover's murder, Wayne County prosecutors say fraudulent transactions were reportedly made using the doctor's various bank accounts, and more than $30,000 was stolen from his accounts, as well as a Range Rover and two watches valued at $13,500.
Authorities say Burks was seen on surveillance footage driving Hoover's Range Rover in the days following the doctor's murder.
Prosecutors allege that text messages between Burks and Hoover established that the two were in an intimate relationship.
Brian Douglas, a longtime friend of Hoover's, has attended nearly every one of Burks' court appearances, including Thursday's arraignment. He says Hoover's family and friends are finally one step closer to getting justice.
"I was devastated when I heard. I was devastated because we almost reconnected, and we didn't," Douglas said. "When I saw who was victimized, and I heard who that person was, and I realized that person didn't deserve that, there was nothing else I could do but show up."
Douglas says that after more than two years since his friend's murder, he still questions why such a good human being was taken away.
"The point of it is, he should still be here," Douglas said. "He was murdered. He shouldn't have been murdered."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
28 minutes ago
- Associated Press
July Fourth holiday marked by shootings in several cities and a fireworks-related death
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (AP) — This year's Fourth of July holiday was marked by multiple shootings across the U.S., including one in Indianapolis that left at least two dead and a police chief voicing public frustration over the latest acts of violence in his city. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Chief Chris Bailey told reporters early Saturday morning that the mayhem was 'completely unacceptable and unnecessary' and that parents and guardians needed to better control their children. 'Hundreds of unsupervised kids down here,' he said, while speaking in the city's downtown area. 'I don't know how many times I had to say it: We are not your children's keepers. You are! And parents and guardians have got to step up. A kid is dead tonight.' Mass shootings were reported in other cities, including Philadelphia and Chicago and Brockton, Mass., where six people were hospitalized following an early morning fight on Saturday. Violence and shootings often surge in the summer months, especially around the Fourth of July, historically one of the deadliest days of the year in the U.S. The shooting in Chicago, which left seven people in serious or critical condition came on the heels of another mass shooting that happened late Wednesday in a busy neighborhood known for its restaurants and nightlife. Four people were killed and 14 others injured. In the New York City borough of Queens, police said one person was dead and three injured following a post-fireworks triple stabbing. Meanwhile, a Wareham, Mass. man is dead after being hit by a firework. Police said they found 70 year-old Robert Spagnuolo with a 'facial injury.' He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Downtown mass shooting leaves 2 dead, 5 injured hours after firework celebration
This is a developing story and will update. Two people are dead and five others injured following a mass shooting in downtown Indianapolis July 5, just hours after thousands gathered for a fireworks show. At least three of the seven shot around 1:30 a.m. on West Washington Street and South Illinois Street were juveniles, one of whom died at an area hospital, officials from the Indianapolis Police Department said. Another person was pronounced dead at the scene. Four other people were also taken to area hospitals by first responders in unknown condition. A fifth person walked into a local hospital and is in stable condition. At a news conference outside Monument Circle, IMPD Chief Chris Bailey appeared visibly upset as he scolded parents for continuing to allow their children out at night unsupervised. Hundreds of unsupervised juveniles were out downtown after the fireworks ended, he said. "Parents and guardians have got to step up," Bailey said. "A kid is dead tonight. And we just don't know the age of the young man down the street, still here, dead. But he looks young." Police were responding to another fight when they heard gunshots one block away. When they arrived, they found several people shot, IMPD officials said. Seven were detained for questioning, and multiple guns were recovered, officials said. Bailey said last night was a scene of frequent conflict despite the presence of hundreds of officers from IMPD, state police and Capitol police. Officers made about 20 arrests and recovered guns from two children before the mass shooting happened, he said. One juvenile had an assault rifle stuffed in the front of his pants, officials said. Indiana police union leader Rick Snyder compared the shooting to a storm's arrival and said the inaction of local elected leaders caused the deaths. At least eight others were injured in shootings in the past 24 hours across Indianapolis, police said. This is Indianapolis' second weekend of violence, following last weekend's shootings that left seven dead and nine injured. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: 2 dead, 5 injured following mass shooting in downtown Indianapolis
CBS News
38 minutes ago
- CBS News
Motorcycle crash leaves one dead in West Philadelphia, police say
A man on a motorcycle was killed and another person was injured when a stolen vehicle crashed into the motorcyclist early Saturday morning in West Philadelphia, according to police. Officers responded to the crash on North 44th Street and Westminster Avenue and saw a field of debris and a vehicle that appeared to be in an accident, police said. The officers found a stolen white Chevrolet Camaro and took the driver into custody. The passenger of the stolen vehicle was injured and was brought to Temple University Hospital where he is currently listed in serious condition. As additional units were called to the scene, officers learned that the vehicle was involved in a collision with a motorcycle. The operator of that motorcycle was a 47-year-old man who was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police. Officers also found a gun and other contraband in the vehicle which is being held as evidence pending a warrant. Philadelphia police are also inspecting surrounding surveillance video. Police are also investigating if the driver of the vehicle was involved in other crimes. By Sydney-Leigh Brockington
