Detroit man now charged with murder after German tourist dies more than a week after 'unprovoked' attack downtown

DETROIT (WWJ) — A Detroit man is now charged with second-degree murder for the death of an elderly tourist who was visiting the city from Germany.

Earlier this month the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office announced 30-year-old Lawrence Deonte Gilchrist had been charged with assault with intent to do great bodily harm and aggravated assault after he walked up to and, for no apparent reason, punched 81-year-old Dieter Kirsch.

On Wednesday the prosecutor’s office announced those charges had been amended to second-degree murder, as Kirsch died of his injuries last Tuesday, 10 days after the incident.

Around 10:15 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7 Detroit police officers were called to a building on Woodward Avenue, just north of Campus Martius Park.

Gilchrist allegedly walked up to Kirsch and, “without provocation,” hit him, causing him to fall and hit his head. Prosecutors say when police showed up the German man was on the ground suffering from a severe head injury.

EMS rushed him to the hospital, where he remained until his death last week.

“A lot of work has gone into making our city a welcoming beacon to all, only to have the alleged horrific actions of this defendant deeply tarnish these efforts. But much more importantly, 81-year-old Dieter Kirsch must pay the undeserved price of what the defendant decided to do. This is heartbreaking on so many levels,” Prosecutor Kym Worthy said in a press release.

Gilchrist was arraigned Wednesday on the new charges and remanded to jail. A probable cause hearing is scheduled for Oct. 3 and a preliminary exam on Oct. 9.

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