A Southfield man has been charged with first-degree premeditated murder in the shooting death of his older brother, an act police attribute to years of jealousy over the victim’s success.
Breylon Roberts, 21, of Southfield, pleaded not guilty Friday to one count of first-degree premeditated murder and one count of felony firearm in the death of 23-year-old Trey Cameron Roberts. He is being held without bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for 9 a.m. Nov. 5 before Judge Cynthia Arvant in 46th District Court.
According to Southfield police, the shooting occurred around 12:46 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19, inside the brothers’ shared home in the 17000 block of Dorset Avenue. A neighbor’s Ring doorbell captured the sound of 17 gunshots. Surveillance video then showed Breylon Roberts leaving the rear of the residence about a minute later with a dog and walking east along the sidewalk, behavior relatives described as unusual for him.
Police said he returned briefly, entered the backseat of his black Jeep Grand Cherokee, and later drove to a relative’s home in the 18000 block of West 12 Mile Road, where he took a shower. Around 3 p.m., the brothers’ 17-year-old sister came home, found blood and what appeared to be bullet evidence throughout the residence, and called 911.
Southfield officers arrived about 3:02 p.m. and discovered Trey Roberts lying face down in the kitchen with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene. When Breylon Roberts returned to the home, the teenage sister could be heard yelling, “What did you do? What did you do?” according to Southfield Police Chief Elvin Barren.
Investigators recovered 17 spent 9mm shell casings from the kitchen. A search of the Jeep registered to Breylon Roberts turned up a privately manufactured handgun, sometimes called a ghost gun, with an empty magazine under the driver’s seat. Ballistic testing linked the firearm to the casings found at the scene, police said.
Barren told reporters at a Friday press conference that interviews with relatives and friends pointed to longstanding conflict between the brothers. The friction centered on Breylon Roberts’ perception that Trey was more successful in his employment and held in higher regard by family and friends.
“The conflict was reportedly related to the perceptions of the victim having greater success,” Barren said. “It brings to mind a biblical context like Cain and Abel, where he killed his brother due to jealousy.”
Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald’s office authorized the charges. First-degree premeditated murder in Michigan carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted. The felony firearm charge carries a consecutive two-year prison term for a first offense.
Barren described the case as a tragic act of family violence. He urged anyone dealing with conflict at home to seek help before situations escalate. The allegations against Breylon Roberts have not been proven in court.
