Jacob Hills, an 18-year-old from Grand Blanc, was found shot to death in the garage of a Detroit apartment complex on July 25. On Friday, August 12, Avion Sanders was charged with his murder.
Sanders, who was arrested Tuesday, August 9, has been charged with first-degree murder, other theft, felony murder, felony possession and three felony firearms charges. He has also been charged with other thefts and other crimes.
Sanders remained silent as the court entered a not guilty plea on his behalf, according to Wayne County District Court documents.
Jacob Hills allegedly attended a party with Avion Sanders
Jacob Hills’ body was found in the basement of the Detroit apartment building in the 22330 block of West Warren Avenue. He had received many gunshot wounds.
According to the prosecution, Jacob Hills and Avion Sanders met at a party that Hills walked into with a new AR-15 he had just purchased. The two traveled to the aforementioned Warren Avenue residence after leaving the party. As they went to the basement together, Sanders allegedly came out alone and left the area after a while.
The Life360 app allowed Jacob Hills’ mother to find Hills’ phone, she told the media. Hills’ parents filed a police report after waiting many hours to hear from him. Authorities found Jacob’s phone on July 24 inside his unlocked car in the parking lot of a hookah lounge on North Telegraph Road in Dearborn Heights.
On July 25, at 1:11 am, they arrived at the West Warren Avenue address and discovered Hills in the basement, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was immediately declared dead.
Hills was allegedly killed by Avion Sanders, who also stole his rifle and left his car at the hookah lounge.
Before the meeting, Hills purchased an AR-15 from ACME Shooting Goods of Oxford. According to Hills’ mother, who was reported in the media, she bought the gun to prepare for boot camp with the Army National Guard.
Records show that Sanders had previously been charged by police with various infractions. He was accused of shooting his fiancée and locking himself inside an apartment building with his young daughter in October 2020.
If convicted of killing Jacob Hills, he would be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.