Gina Damron

Detroit Free Press

Detroit police want anyone with information about the shooting that left a Grosse Pointe Farms teen dead to know: your tip could be worth $100,000.

That's the amount of money being offered by a group of anonymous donors through the Detroit Crime Commission for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

Paige Stalker, 16, was fatally shot and three other teens were wounded in the Dec. 22 shooting, which police said is being investigated as a "robbery gone bad." A fifth teen escaped the attack uninjured.

Andrew Arena, executive director of the nonprofit crime commission, said the donors contacted the commission, which he said has also helped police by doing some analytical work on the case.

"These are individuals who are in the area, they know the family, they know each other and they want this crime solved," Arena said of the donors.

Assistant Detroit Police Chief Steve Dolunt said tipsters can leave the tip and their name and phone number at 313-596-2663.

"We will do everything we can to have the tipster remain anonymous," Dolunt said. "However, because of the amount of money, they'll have to be vetted through our homicide section and we will contact you. Again, you'll have to leave a contact name and number and we will contact you."

Arena said the crime commission "will act as fiduciary, we will hold the money and we will pay the money at the appropriate time when it is vetted by a board, comprised of the crime commission, the Detroit Police Department and the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office."

Arena, retired head of the Detroit FBI, said the reward is one of the largest he's seen in his law enforcement career.

The $100,000 reward is separate from $12,500 being offered by Crime Stoppers of Michigan for information that leads to an arrest. Tips can be made anonymously to Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-SPEAK-UP.

According to police, Stalker and four other teens were in a Mercury Milan on Philip, near Charlevoix, on Detroit's east side when the shooting happened. Police have said the teens had stopped to smoke marijuana. Stalker's family has denied she was involved with any drugs.

Detroit Police Capt. Eric Decker said the shooter got out of the passenger side of a vehicle, light-colored tan or beige sedan.

"The gunman did exit the vehicle. There was something said that would lead us to believe it was some sort of robbery," Decker said. He said the driver of the vehicle the teens were in "did try to drive off and shots were fired at the vehicle."

Decker said 26 spent rounds were recovered.

Stalker, who was a student at University Liggett School in Grosse Pointe Woods, was shot in the head. Decker said she was in the front passenger seat during the shooting.

Police describe the shooter as a black man, 6 feet tall in fatigues, wearing a black hat.

Staff Writer Tresa Baldas contributed to this report.