By Kristyne E. Demske
C & G Staff Writer

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — Three teens were arraigned July 1 in 41-A District Court after a weekend shooting spree that damaged vehicles in Shelby and Macomb townships, Utica and Sterling Heights.

Atanas Buntchev, 18, of Shelby Township was arraigned on charges of malicious destruction of property more than $1,000 but less than $20,000 and retail fraud; and 17-year-old Danny Bahri and a 16-year-old boy, both from Shelby Township, were arraigned on the malicious destruction of property charges.

Shelby Township Police Chief Robert Leman said the three allegedly obtained a BB gun and CO2 cartridges at a local Wal-Mart, then used it to damage dozens of vehicles throughout the four communities.

“As of approximately 11 o’clock this morning we’ve had a report of 62 victims” in Shelby Township, said Leman June 30. He said they may be looking for one more suspect, as well, and that the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office had reports of at least 15 to 20 vehicles damaged in Macomb Township.

“Utica had some and Sterling had some,” he said. “We think these same kids are responsible for it.”

Utica Detective Sgt. David Faber said eight vehicles were hit in the city.

“One household had three,” he said. “All three vehicles parked in their driveway got hit.”

Leman said his department was able to arrest the one teen after an officer found an empty box of cartridges at one of the scenes. They matched the UPC code to Wal-Mart, which was able to lead police to the credit card number used by one of the suspects.

He said the spree wasn’t isolated in one part of Shelby but was “random, it was all over the township.”

“They bought it, it looks about 5 o’clock yesterday evening and then sometime during the evening hours they started their spree and continued,” Leman said June 30. “It appears from talking to the juvenile that about 300 or 400 rounds of BBs were fired … pretty good crime spree for these young kids.”

He said the damage ranged from about $150 to $200 on each vehicle.

The 16-year-old was arrested June 30 and the other two were found at their homes July 1, Leman said.

The teens are out on $25,000 personal bonds.