Detroit police hunting 6 suspects in 2 rapes, robberies

Detroit police are looking for up to six suspects in the wake of two rape and robbery incidents that both occurred Thursday night, within just a few hours of each other.

Both involved a man and woman who were cornered by a group and ordered into an alley, at which point the woman was raped and the man was robbed. Both couples were left with only some clothing at most.

"It's horrifying," said Detroit Police Deputy Chief Charles Fitzgerald. "It's terrible. It's awful."

The first incident happened in the 13000 block of West McNichols on the northwest side around 10 p.m., when six suspects approached a man and woman in their early 20s while on foot, Fitzgerald said at a news conference. One of the six men aimed a gun at the pair and ordered them into a nearby alley. There the men ordered the couple to lie on the ground, the woman was raped and the man was robbed. Both were left without any clothing.

A second scenario with virtually matching details took place less than two hours later – though in this incident there appeared to be four men, not six.

The suspects all fled on foot, but were seen near a blue Ford SUV. On Friday night, police released composite sketches of one of the suspects.

Police also think the group may have taken part in a third robbery and rape incident on July 11. From that incident, police produced two sketches of suspects on Friday.

Anyone with details in the incidents can call Detroit Police at 313-267-4600.

Contact Daniel Bethencourt: dbethencourt@freepress.com or 313-223-4531. Follow on Twitter at @dbethencourt.