True Crime Friday: Kenyel William Brown, the Metro Detroit serial killer

Kenyel Brown was a serial killer who operated throughout the Metro Detroit area hence the name The Metro Detroit Serial Killer moniker. Brown was born July 3, 1979, in Michigan. He was working as an informant while he was committing murders. Brown committed murders between the years 2019 and 2020. The authorities were attempting to arrest Brown on February 24, 2020, when he shot himself in the head to avoid capture. While he did survive his injuries he later died from the gunshot wound. The killings caused a stir both in the city and the entire state after it was found that Brown worked as a government informant. “Kenyel William Brown, 40, has been identified as the suspect and has a long criminal history involving narcotics and weapon offenses. He is considered armed and dangerous.” This is the language that was used on the website of the United States Marshal Service for fugitive Kenyel Brown. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Detroit Field Division. In 2015 the BATFAE team made the decision to recruit Brown as an informant.

As someone who used to work at a halfway house seeing U.S. Marshals coming into the house to arrest convicts is scary. Once I was working at night and the house guests were watching The Terminator. It was scary because all of them were on the side of the killer. Yes, they were on the side of the Terminator. Now back to today’s crime story.

The Early Childhood of Kenyel Brown

Kenyel Brown was born into a large family with several brothers and sisters. He was a good athlete and was a good basketball player. His friends thought he was a gifted basketball player but that all came crashing down when he started using drugs as teenager. His friends and family said he began to change from a friendly teenager to someone they did not recognize. Brown was arrested several times for different types of offenses such as robbery, attempted murder, drug possession and burglary. He was given parole several times. He continued to violate his parole but because he was an informant he was never charged with any parole violations.

The Victims of Kenyel Brown

• Loren Harrington, 31
• Dorian Patterson, 48
• Kimberly Green, 52
• Garcius Woodyard, 49
• Amir Thaxton, 41
• Eugene Jennings, 36

The Survivor of Kenyel Brown

• Clifton Smith, 44

The Suspected Victims of Kenyel Brown

• Unknown Victim
• Several Suspected Victims

Brown is suspected of several murders, but the police did not have enough evidence to bring charges. Kenyel Brown was placed on the wanted list due to the testimony of Clifton Smith who witnessed the killings of Patterson and Smith. Clifton was also shot by Brown but survived. The manhunt for Brown was led by the United States Marshal Service Detroit Fugitive Apprehension Team and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Detroit Field Division. In 2015 the BATFAE recruited Brown as an informant. He worked as an informant for five years.

Lady Justice

Kenyel William Brown visited an adult bookstore when the employees recognized him and called the police. He then ran from the store into the neighborhood trying to hide in the backyards of the houses. He was spotted by the police and then surrounded by law enforcement officers in the backyard. He then took a gun and shot himself, later dying in the hospital and bringing an end to his serial killing journey.

References

• Click on Detroit - Kenyel Brown
• Kenyel Brown Dead
• U.S. Marshals Offer $5k Reward for Information Leading to Capture of Fugitive Triple Shooter
• Wikipedia - Kenyel Brown