Written by Tanya Terry
When an ex-employee allegedly threatened by email to shoot up the General Motors Flint Assembly plant on Atherton and Van Slyke last week, the Flint Police Department received a complaint from General Motors personnel.
“He was angered over not being rehired by General Motors,” stated Flint Police Chief Terrence Green.
This led to an investigation by the Flint City Police Department Detective Bureau Special Investigative Unit and the city’s intel analyst team.
“During the course of this investigation, the suspect was identified as Paris Desean Alexander, a city of Burton resident” Green continued. “Immediately, the investigation led to a search warrant made by the detectives in charge of the case.”
Firearms recently seized from Alexander include a 9 mm Springfield Hellcat, a Derringer 2 shot pistol, International Arms Ak-47 style pistol 7.62 Caliber and a 9 mm Glock 45. In addition, ammunition and magazines were recovered.
“In addition, it was discovered that the City of Flint Police Department had previous contact with Desean Alexander, Mr. Paris Alexander, due to the fact he illegally possessed a firearm approximately a year ago. That case is currently pending in 7th Circuit Court. He was out on a bond for that case.”
On Friday, July 9, Paris Alexander was arrested in the city of Detroit at Detroit Metro Airport as he exited an airplane. He was transported back to Flint, lodged at the city jail and arraigned on charges of false threats of terrorism and using a computer to commit a felony.
“Threats of workplace violence will not be tolerated by the City of Flint.”
Mayor Sheldon Neeley that every weapon the City of Flint confiscates that is possessed illegally will be destroyed.
“These are serious, serious weapons,” Neeley said of the weapons previously possessed by Alexander.
Green described the charge of false threats of terrorism as a “generic” charge, and said the threat was perceived as an imminent one. According to Green, Alexander worked at the plant five years ago and had reapplied to be rehired and been denied.
