Court spectators usually don't wind up as defendants, though that's what happened Wednesday afternoon to five people in Harper Woods District Court.
The occasion was a preliminary examination for two Detroit men accused of murder in a 2010 shooting outside Eastland Mall. Mayhem ensued, MLive reports:
Dozens of supporters of the suspects and the victim fought outside the courtroom, according to Harper Woods Police Chief Jim Burke. . . .
About 80 people began what Burke called a verbal disturbance that spilled into the lobby of the police station and turned violent.
Extra officers already were standing by and support was summoned from several Grosse Pointe communities nearby, he chief tells Khalil AlHajal of MLive.
Five people were arrested and two people suffered minor injures in the fight, according to Burke.
Judge Roger LaRose ordered the courtroom cleared and hearing continued.
