By Ronald J. Hansen / The Detroit News

DETROIT -- Wayne County's police added Monday what they hope will be a powerful tool to discourage the illegal flow of guns in this crime-ridden area: a precedent for convicting people who supply weapons to killers.

Bryant Keith Daniels of Detroit pleaded guilty in Wayne County Circuit Court to second-degree murder for supplying the M1 assault rifle used to kill Ajanee Pollard on Feb. 25, 2002. Even though Daniels, 30, didn't intend Ajanee's death, he became the first person convicted of murder in Wayne County for merely supplying a weapon later used illegally.

Under the terms of a plea agreement, Daniels is expected to be sentenced to 7-15 years in prison on Jan. 21.

"Today is the day I've been waiting for for two years," said Michael Duggan, the county's prosecutor. Duggan called the case historic and promised similar charges against others who recklessly give guns to others.

"We believe that supplying a gun to an angry person to go scare somebody constituted second-degree murder," he said.

Duggan wants to use the same murder charge to whoever supplied the suspect in the Dec. 21 slaying of a Livonia jeweler and his mother and three children.

Detroit Police Chief Jerry A. Oliver Sr. said the department will routinely investigate who supplies guns to suspected killers in other cases. He said the added responsibility will not drain other investigations.

Ajanee was murdered by Joel Anthony Allen, 24, and Willie James Robinson, who are now serving life sentences for their crime. Witnesses said Daniels loaned them his rifle after they had an argument with Ajanee's uncle.

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2003