Bird droppings helped Michigan investigators track down a suspect in an alleged attempted murder that left a prominent businessman fighting for his life, a sheriff said.
Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham spoke to reporters Tuesday about the Oct. 14 incident involving Eddie Jawad outside his Macomb Township home, according to Fox 17. He alleged that detectives matched bird poop on a suspect’s vehicle to surveillance footage along with other indicators.
“We were able to identify break dust on the wheel well, smudges that were on the vehicle and bird poop that was on the vehicle,” the sheriff said at the press conference.
Jasan Delanta Martin, 32, of Eastpointe faces six charges, among them assault with intent to murder. Wickersham said investigators spent several days looking into the case. Detectives combed through traffic camera footage and allegedly discovered the suspect drove a Ford Escape with stolen plates that was observed fleeing the incident. Police allegedly located the vehicle with its regular plates restored and connected it to the case. (RELATED: REPORT: Man Uses Boogie Board And Sonar Device To Find Dozens Of Vehicles In Creek, Solve Decades-Long Cold Case)
A manhunt for a shooter in Macomb County used every lead imaginable and one that you wouldn’t expect: the spray of bird poop on the suspect’s vehicles. https://t.co/bBU2pWuWSK pic.twitter.com/WgbRhsdwVN
— FOX 17 (@FOX17) October 22, 2025
“A total effort of law enforcement at every level to get this individual in custody,” Wickersham said.
Surveillance video captured the alleged attack. A gunman appears to jump from hiding and open fire as Jawad sits in his black SUV. Jawad drives across his lawn to escape. The businessman said the shooter fired 12 rounds.
Investigators said footage revealed the suspect waited almost an hour in Jawad’s yard before the attack. Martin was on parole from Ohio for kidnapping, armed robbery and assault with a dangerous weapon, according to Prosecutor Peter Lucido.
Jawad allegedly suffered a gunshot wound to his leg and cuts from flying glass but is expected to recover, according to Fox 17. He told reporters he believes someone close to him orchestrated the hit.
“It’s still a long way to go to see the conspiracy… well, I tell you, it’s a close person to me who made the call,” Jawad said.
The Daily Caller reached out to the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office for comment.