DETROIT, Mi. — A man who was part of a U.S. Postal Service employees group who won a share of the $93 million Mega Millions Jackpot in February is now accused of killing a Detroit landlord from Australia.
In a bizarre twist to the tragic death of Greg McNicol in Detroit, police said suspect Freddie Young won a $1.8 million slice of $93 million Mega Millions lottery.
Young allegedly shot McNicol during an argument over just a few hundred dollars in overdue rent money Young's daughter owed.
"It didn't make any sense," Lieutenant Dwane Blackmon, commanding officer of the Detroit Police Department's homicide division, said. "I guess he just let his anger take over."
Young did not have a criminal record, but Lieutenant Blackmon said interviews with family members indicated he had a "violent temper".
Young was arrested on Saturday and during questioning confessed to the murder, Lieutenant Blackmon said.
McNicol, 45, moved to the US from Victoria about 12 years ago. In February, he purchased a rundown 10-unit apartment complex in Detroit.
Tenants praised McNicol as he worked hard to renovate the building, transforming it from a "rat trap" to a livable environment, with plans to install picnic benches on an adjacent block of land.
An argument broke out on the front lawn of the premises on May 7 between Young's daughter, who lived in the building, and McNicol, who threatened to evict her for not paying her rent.
It is alleged Young drove up in a car, pulled out the silver Colt .45 and shot McNicol in the groin, likely severing a major artery that led to the Australian bleeding to death, Lieutenant Blackmon said.
Young was part of a 13-person P1 Gold Lottery Club that had one of two winning tickets in the February 4 Mega Millions lottery. In February, Lottery Post reported that the group included 13 postal workers from the priority mail processing center in Romulus.
The members of the lottery pool chose to take the cash option of just over $29 million, less taxes, leaving Young with about $1.8 million.
Ed Moore, a local spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service, confirmed Young was a 13-year employee, but didn't have additional information Monday night about whether he was in the lottery club.
Andrea Brancato, a state lottery spokeswoman, said Monday night she could only confirm the name of the winning group, not its individual members.
News of the lottery win surprised residents at McNicol's building. Residents said they were devastated by the loss of the man who had purchased the building, fixed it up and befriended tenants.
Florida Benton said given his reported status as a millionaire and the alleged rent dispute, she questioned the suspect's motives.
"What kind of a man are you?" she asked.
Lieutenant Blackmon added, "You wouldn't think an individual who was pretty much set for his life financially would go over to the apartment complex and do what he did."
Young has been charged with first-degree murder and a felony firearm charge. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
He has been remanded in custody.
Detroit, the home of the US automobile industry, was slammed by the recession, with property prices plummeting as a quarter of the city's population left the city the past decade, resulting in thousands of homes being abandoned.
McNicol was one of many investors enticed to buy discounted property in the ailing city and community leaders fear his murder will turn new investors away.
"By all accounts he was a landlord hoping to have a positive impact in the community," Detroit prosecutor Kym Worthy said.
"This is extremely discouraging and I sincerely hope that this does not have a chilling effect for others who want to do business in the city of Detroit."
McNicol's Brazilian-born wife, Karen, has vowed to continue the work her husband began at the apartment complex.
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Their may be more to this story: Considering McNicol was shot in the groin...
Being a Mega Millions Jackpot Winner: Doesn't make one smart or non-violent...
Sad story.........RIP Mr. McNicol may God bless your family that you leave behind......... true Raven62 there may be more to the story however base on the info that we have this gives Young no right to do what he did. If he felt his daughter was being treated unfailry he should have hired an attorney and persued legal action.
OK now on to this lunatic Young, he does not deserve to be addresed as Mr. you deserve everything that you get in prison and then some.....
Oh and to the daughter pay your bills!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That's Jacked Up Darn Shame
I saw this on the news, the daughter called daddy when she was being evicted, and started a fight with Mr. Mcnicol, daddy raced up in his car shot, Mr. Mcnicol , jumped back in his car and raced off. As far as I am concerned the daughter should be charged also, sad story , but a daily one here in Detroit.
Rest in Peace Mr. Mcnicol!
Detroit is what is wrong with America ............. the Greed of Envycrowd is entitled to what ever they want .............. you don't have to pay rent ............... "Obama got a stash"
When I win, I will invest carefully .................... I will look at the political demographics and go where the people don't expect something for nothing!
It's possible that there is more to this story, or just that this man was a poor shot.
Either way it doesn't justify this man getting gunned down and left to die. When are people going to realize the " MOUTH " is more powerful and can do more damage than a weapon.
A war of words would have sufficed in this situation, rather than a man having to die for a couple of hundred dollars.
This is an absolutely inhuman, inconceivable, unconscionable, insufferable outrage.
It's reminiscent of the mindless murder of Abraham Shakespeare by another scumbucket .
The weeds always choke out the flowers.
I would love to have 15 minutes in the cell with this piece of crap SOB.
Unfortunately, this is where the entitlement mentality of liberalism always leads.
Detroit is it's flagship, shining example and showpiece.
I totally agree with you. Such a sad story to hear.
This is very sad. a person trying to make a positive impact on society gunned down by someone who didn't have a clue to the real meaning of life. To his daughter, pay YOUR OWN BILLS!! Now that your Dad is going to prison for the rest of his life, who will pay them now? To the family of the slain man, you have my deepest condolences.
Amen Brother !
Gee I wonder if they will prosecute this as a Hate crime? Probably not....If I were to win a jackpot I would get out of Detroit and possibly Michigan sas quickly as possible! Maybe the should have a Law that If you have worked for the US Post Office you should have a mental exam before you can own a gun? LOL
...Anyhow I hope this guy gets the death penalty or many years in prison...but somehow I think he will probably just blame "Whitey" for his rage and get off by a jury of his Peers......
What! the hell are you people talking about Obama what I am so dam tired of you people blaming everyting on President Obama and Liberals. If there was something like he was having his way with my daughter,he meet the same faith at my hand not to say this was the case.
Louise, just to be clear, you're saying that this guy was correct to shoot the landlord, and that you would do the same thing?