Man charged in livestreamed slaying of friend skips hearing

DETROIT – A Detroit man charged in the livestreamed fatal shooting of his 18-year-old friend has failed to show up for a court hearing.

The Wayne County prosecutor’s office says 18-year-old Dawone Cook was due for arraignment at 10:30 a.m. Friday in Detroit’s 36th District Court.

Cook faces a misdemeanour careless discharge of a firearm causing injury or death charge. It carries a 2-year maximum penalty upon conviction.

Cook was arrested, but later released while police investigated the April 2 slaying of Dylan Hemphill in a northwest Detroit home. Police have said the two men were showing off weapons and money in a video on Instagram when Hemphill was shot in the head.

Cook called 911, but Hemphill was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have called the shooting an accident.