Detroit man sentenced for role in Warren gun battle

WARREN

Dale Hatch, one of two Detroit men who pleaded guilty to participating in a gun battle near downtown Warren Nov. 11, 2012, was sentenced to 10 years in prison today.

Hatch, 27, pleaded guilty in February before Judge W. Wyatt McKay of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court to involuntary manslaughter in the death of Marco Dukes, 32, of Warren, and attempted aggravated murder and felonious assault of Dukes’ cousin, Larry Smith, 29, who was hit by gunfire during the shootout but survived.

Prosecutors said Hatch fired only one shot before his gun jammed. He fled on foot and was captured a short distance away after running through the parking lot of the St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church on High Street, where witnesses attending a Sunday-morning service helped point police in the direction Hatch had gone.

Hatch and Derrick Peete, 23, participated in the gun battle, which took place behind an apartment house on Elm Road not far from the church and several popular restaurants.

Police said 30 to 40 shots were fired in the gun battle, most of them from an assault rifle Peete was using. Dukes also fired a weapon.

On March 20, Peete received a life prison sentence with parole eligibility after 15 years for the murder of Dukes and attempted murder of Smith.