A Detroit man is facing murder charges after a 60-year-old man was fatally injured during a carjacking early Tuesday morning at a gas station on Joy Road. Kevin Maurice Farries Jr., 25, has been charged with felony murder, first-degree murder and carjacking in connection with the death of Keith Graus.
According to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, the incident occurred around 4:30 a.m. At a Sunoco gas station near Greenfield Road. Graus had reportedly left his Jeep Compass running while he briefly entered the gas station. Prosecutors allege that Farries entered the vehicle while Graus was inside the store.
Upon returning to his vehicle, Graus was allegedly thrown to the ground and kicked multiple times by Farries, who similarly stole Graus’ watch, authorities said. Surveillance footage reportedly captured Farries then running Graus over with his own car multiple times before fleeing the scene. Graus died at the scene from his injuries.
Following the incident, Michigan State Police located Farries at a gas station in Dearborn. When troopers attempted to arrest him, Farries allegedly sped away in the stolen Jeep, colliding with multiple police vehicles during a brief pursuit before crashing into a telephone pole. He was taken into custody near Greenfield Road and Warren Avenue in Detroit.
During a video arraignment on Friday, Magistrate William T. Burton Jr. Of 36th District Court denied Farries bond, describing the facts of the case as “highly, very egregious.” A not guilty plea was entered on Farries’ behalf. He is scheduled to appear for a probable cause conference on February 20, with a preliminary exam set for February 26. He remains remanded to the Wayne County Jail.
If convicted on the charges, Farries faces the possibility of life in prison, according to authorities. The Detroit Police Department, along with Michigan State Police and Dearborn Police, were involved in the investigation and apprehension of the suspect.
