2 Detroiters arraigned in death of man who helped Proof

June 19, 2006
Email this Print this BY JACK KRESNAK
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
Two Detroit men were charged Sunday in the drug-related killing of a 31-year-old man who was on the scene when rapper Proof was shot at a nightclub.
According to Detroit police, the victim, Gerald Rosic Gadie, was with Proof — also known as Deshaun Holton — on April 11 when Proof shot Keith Bender Jr., 35, a veteran of the Persian Gulf War, during a dispute at the club. Proof was then shot by Bender’s cousin in what officials later ruled as self-defense.
Gadie drove Proof to a hospital, where he was dead on arrival, police said.
On May 27, police found Gadie in the basement of his home in the 19300 block of Hull in northeast Detroit.
He had been shot to death, apparently in a dispute over 20 pounds of marijuana and $7,000 stolen from Gadie on May 14, police said.
John Henry Williams II, 31, and Corey Frazier, 29, were arraigned Sunday before 36th District Court Magistrate Millicent Sherman on charges of first-degree murder and possession of a firearm during a felony. Frazier also was charged as a four-time habitual offender. First-degree murder carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole.
Williams’ attorney, David Braxton, said his client had no criminal record and that the case against him was largely based on statements Frazier had made to police.
Frazier had no attorney present for his arraignment.
Sherman ordered both men held without bond, pending a June 30 preliminary examination.