P 0312355Z JAN 79
FM DETROIT (89-247) (P)
TO DIRECTOR FBI (PRIORITY)
SAN FRANCISCO (PRIORITY)
BT
UNCLAS EFTO
RYMUR, 00: SAN FRANCISCO
Re Detroit phone call of SA [name deleted] to SA Charles Hiner, San Francisco.
On January 30, 1979, at approximately 12:10 AM, Dennis Hicks, 236 King Street, Detroit, Michigan, was shot and killed in the vicinity of the John C. Lodge Expressway and LaBelle Street in Detroit. Hicks was shot four times in the head and chest. .30 caliber rounds were removed from the body.
Hicks believed to have driven a van to the residence of his former wife, [name deleted], Detroit, during the late evening hours of January 29, 1979. When Hicks arrived, [name deleted] advised she was not ready to leave and victim ran a short
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errand returning to the residence shortly after midnight, January 30, 1979.
Upon victim’s return, he was approached by a black male, 35 years old, 5’10”, thin build, wearing hooded sweatshirt, brown waist length coat, nylon stocking over face, brown pants, regular street shoes, carrying a carbine rifle. The victim exited his vehicle and the individual fired several shots. Victim ran a short distance to the corner of the Lodge Expressway and Ford Street where he collapsed. The individual then fled on foot.
Victim’s ex-wife was arrested by Detroit Police Department officers and subsequently released after interview. [Name deleted] well known by local authorities due to her involvement in narcotics traffic in Detroit area. [Name deleted] has also been interviewed several times in the past three years concerning her knowledge and possible involvement in several narcotics related homicides occurring in Detroit.
Victim is known to be the son of Reverend Robert B. Hicks of Detroit and the brother of Marthia [Marthea], Sharon, Anthony and Romeldo [Romaldo] Hicks who are either known or believed to be victims
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of the Jonestown Guyana incident. Aggressive homicide investigation currently being conducted by Detroit Police Department officers and no evidence has been developed to date to suggest Hicks was the victim of any assassination plan of the Peoples’ Temple organization.
Detroit Police Department, Homicide Section, has received numerous press inquiries regarding the shooting as has FBI, Detroit.
Detroit will closely follow local homicide investigation and advise the Bureau and San Francisco of details when available.
Armed and dangerous, suicidal.
BT