Noos Tues: I Got 5 On It.

Police: Man Killed Over $5 Bag Of Pot
Police Say Man Was Playing Trick On Teen Dealer

POSTED: Monday, July 27, 2009
UPDATED: 11:37 pm EDT July 27, 2009

WARREN, Mich. -- Police said four teenagers confronted a 46-year-old man who failed to pay for $5 worth of marijuana, and one of them smashed the victim's head with a piece of cement, killing him.

Warren police said the slaying happened Sunday around 11 p.m. outside a house on the 8600 block of Stephens Street in Warren, just north of Detroit.

When police responded to a 911 call, officers found Michael Daniel McCarthy bleeding in the front yard. McCarthy was transported to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Watch: Teens Accused Of Killing Man With Concrete

Chief William Dwyer said the man was buying the marijuana from 16-year-old Brandon Lee Ebel but failed to pay for it.

Dwyer said Ebel picked up three friends, and the four attacked the man.

"One of the suspects picks up a large chunk of cement and slams it into the victims' head. They further brutalize him by stepping on him and kicking him. A total brutal-type murder over $5 worth of marijuana," said Dwyer.

Local 4 has learned the robbery was staged as part of a joke on the teen after he sold marijuana to his own father.

McCarthy was Ebel's father's friend, who wanted to teach the teen a lesson for overcharging his father for marijuana, police said.

McCarthy pretended to steal the marijuana, but the teen thought he was really stealing it from his father and went to get his friends, said police. That's when the altercation broke out.

Brandon Ebel's father, Gregory Ebel, said he is trying to cope with the loss of his friend and his 16-year-old son. Gregory Ebel said he thought his friend was going to recover from his injurues.

"I thought he had a concussion, but I thought he would come through. He didn't come through. I thought he would come out of the hospital with stitches, but he didn't," said Gregory Ebel.

McCarthy's friend Michelle Giddens said he was a good man and was just beginning to turn his life around before it was senselessly taken.

Authorities have charged the 16-year-old, two 17-year-olds and an 18-year-old with second-degree murder, armed robbery and conspiracy to rob.

Kevin David Antone, 18, of Warren, Thomas Henry Post, 17, of Roseville and Jacob Steven Androsuk, 17, of Warren were arraigned in front of Judge John Chmura at 37th District Court Monday.

Chmura set a $1 million bond for the trio. They will be back in court on Aug. 4 for a preliminary hearing.

Ebel will be arraigned Tuesday morning in the 37th District Court. He is being lodged at Macomb County Youth Home.

All of the teens are being charged as adults. If convicted, they face up to 20 years in prison.

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