Three Detroit men were were sentenced on Wednesday, Sept. 2, in the drive-by killing of 6-year-old Rylee Love, who was struck in the head by a stray bullet while playing inside his home last summer, the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office announced.
Authorities say Demontrel Benard Wilson, 30, Deonate Cornealous Cherry, 28, and Terrance Jaland Blue, 28, fired several times at a group of people standing near the intersection of Anglin Street and Stender Avenue on July 27, 2025.
They were initially charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy of first-degree murder, and two weapons charges related to drive-by killings. Wilson and Blue were given additional charges of illegally possessing a firearm.
Cherry took a plea deal and was sentenced Tuesday to 20
to 40 years in prison for second-degree murder. Wilson was found guilty of second-degree murder and firearm possession and was sentenced to 39 to 70 years and 30 months to nearly 8 years in those cases.
As for Blue, a jury found him guilty as charged on all counts. He was sentenced to:
- Life without parole for first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.
- Nearly 30 years to 70 years for the two weapons charges involving drive-by shootings.
- And 47 months to nearly 8 years for possessing a firearm as a felon.
“Rylee Love was the ultimate innocent victim. The alleged actions of these defendants directly caused his senseless death. I have said many times that bullets have no eyes or sense of direction," Prosecutor Kym Worthy said in the news release.
"The bullets in this case struck a child playing in his house and he will not see another day."
Andrea Sahouri covers criminal justice for the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at asahouri@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit men sentenced in stray-bullet killing of 6-year-old Rylee Love
