3 to be tried in Troy hotel shooting

A judge ordered three cousins to stand trial Wednesday on first-degree murder charges in the robbery-slaying of a hotel clerk and the wounding of a customer.

The suspects are nephews of Shirley Haywood, 36, of Detroit, who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in a deal under which she is expected to testify against them.

Haywood has admitted to driving the car used in the crime and said she was aware that two of her nephews had access to guns.

Michelle Eberhard, 35, of Redford Township was a night clerk at a Holiday Inn in Troy. She was fatally shot in the head Sept. 2. The other victim, Rachel Joost, 28, of Cedar Park, Texas, was wounded in the face.

On Wednesday, District Judge William Bolle ruled there was enough evidence to try the three in Oakland County Circuit Court, said Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Marc Barron.

Thomas Jackson, 24, and Brandon Burns-Perry, 17, both of Detroit, and John Spratt Jr., 30, of Oak Park, are charged with first-degree felony murder and armed robbery. .