Alleged road rage shooter freed

Investigators seek more witnesses in traffic incident Saturday in which father of 3 died

Christine Ferretti / The Detroit News

Clinton Township -- Relatives of a Shelby Township father of three who was shot and killed Saturday in an alleged road rage incident expressed dismay Monday after learning the suspected shooter was released pending further investigation.

About a dozen relatives gathered in Clinton Township District Court hoping to watch the suspect's formal arraignment. Police on Monday morning presented the case to Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith, who instructed officers to release the man, Clinton Township Police Capt. Richard Maierle said.

Smith could not be reached for comment.

Police said the suspect, who has not been named, shot and killed Anton "Tony" Djeljevic, 34, after a "traffic altercation" at a light on Hall Road near Groesbeck around 10:15 p.m.

After the shooting, the suspect drove east on Hall Road, got onto eastbound Interstate 94 and called the Macomb County Sheriff's Office to report "he was involved in a shooting," Maierle said. He then pulled over to the side of the expressway and waited for police.

Djeljevic was transported to Mount Clemens Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Maierle said investigators have interviewed a number of witnesses, but they are seeking more. He declined to discuss any additional details about the case.

Djeljevic was charged in July 2001 with assault with intent to murder and felony firearm. A Warren District Court judge later dismissed the charges, noting there were no witnesses or officers to implicate Djeljevic in the alleged crime.

Family said Djeljevic, who moved to the United States from Germany when he was 11, was a loving husband to his wife Jennifer, 33, and the couple's three children, ages 15, 8 and 7.

"He was a great-hearted person," said his sister, Antoneta Djeljevic, 28, of Shelby Township.

"He would do anything for anybody. Thirty-four years old is too short to live a life. Now there's just such a big missing piece."

Antoneta said the incident occurred when her brother was on his way to a cousin's birthday party. He died in his wife's arms, and when Antoneta got the call that he'd been shot, she first "thought it was a joke."

Family said Djeljevic, who customized cars for a living, had a "heart of gold" and there was "not an ounce of violence in him."

"It should have never happened," said Djeljevic's first cousin, Frank Micakaj, adding his cousin was unarmed. "A gun was drawn ... my cousin never had a chance."

Visitation for Djeljevic is from 3-9 p.m. Thursday and 1-9 p.m. Friday at Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons Inc., 54880 Van Dyke in Shelby Township. The funeral is set for 9 a.m. Saturday at St. Paul Albanian Community Church, 525 W. Auburn in Rochester Hills.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact police at (586) 493-7840.

cferretti@detnews.com (586) 468-0343