Demetris Holloway(1958-1990)
Gunned down within The Broadway department store, a trendy clothier in downtown Detroit, Demetris Holloway (erroneously spelled as "Demetrius" by local newspapers) led an extensive wholesale cocaine operation, moving hundreds of kilograms weekly across the Midwest.
At the time of his murder, the Detroit Police Department deemed him the most influential drug lord during the peak of the crack epidemic, labeling him "Public Enemy No. 1." The FBI was on the brink of issuing indictments against Holloway under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, a U.S. federal law targeting ongoing criminal organizations with severe penalties.
Trained in street affairs on Detroit's east-side by Francis "Big Frank Nitti" Usher and James "Jimmy Red" Freeman of the Murder Row crew (the Black drug and enforcement wing of the Tocco-Zerilli Crime Family), Holloway, after a brief prison term, seized control of Detroit's underworld with childhood friend Richard "Maserati Rick" Carter Sr. and the Brown brothers, known as "The Best Friends."
In contrast to his peers' flashy attire, Holloway wore expensive Italian suits, presenting a more businesslike image than a typical drug kingpin. Living a lavish life with private jets for gambling sprees in Las Vegas, Miami, and Atlantic City, he was also friends with heavyweight boxing champion Tommy Hearns, often accompanying him to fights.
Based at the Chalk & Cue pool lounge on West Seven Mile, Holloway operated a chain of sports apparel stores, potentially worth millions to Foot Locker Retail, Inc. at the time of his death. He also invested in Alabama land and managed Detroit apartment buildings through Renters Paradise, claiming a legal $17,000 monthly income. Despite facing law enforcement scrutiny in the late 1980s, Holloway skillfully managed his finances, portraying himself as a professional gambler on tax returns.
As the 1980s concluded, Holloway faced attacks from law enforcement and three rival organizations. His life took a tragic turn when his lifelong friend and partner, Maserati Rick, was fatally shot in 1988. Fearing his own demise, Holloway orchestrated his abduction, staying away from conflict. He eventually returned to Detroit, married his girlfriend in Las Vegas, but couldn't escape the city's allure.
On October 8, 1990, at 4 pm EST, Lester Milton shot Holloway in the back of the head inside The Broadway store. Holloway, armed with a pistol and $17,000, couldn't defend himself. Lester's brother, Tommy, served as the getaway driver. A decade later, both brothers were convicted of the murder.
Regarded as the king of Motown's cocaine scene in the late 1980s, Holloway's life was documented in the 2010 documentary "Detroit Connection 3: Last Man Standing." His influence endures in Detroit's underworld culture, acknowledged in rap lyrics by local artist "G. Twilight."
At the time of his murder, the Detroit Police Department deemed him the most influential drug lord during the peak of the crack epidemic, labeling him "Public Enemy No. 1." The FBI was on the brink of issuing indictments against Holloway under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, a U.S. federal law targeting ongoing criminal organizations with severe penalties.
Trained in street affairs on Detroit's east-side by Francis "Big Frank Nitti" Usher and James "Jimmy Red" Freeman of the Murder Row crew (the Black drug and enforcement wing of the Tocco-Zerilli Crime Family), Holloway, after a brief prison term, seized control of Detroit's underworld with childhood friend Richard "Maserati Rick" Carter Sr. and the Brown brothers, known as "The Best Friends."
In contrast to his peers' flashy attire, Holloway wore expensive Italian suits, presenting a more businesslike image than a typical drug kingpin. Living a lavish life with private jets for gambling sprees in Las Vegas, Miami, and Atlantic City, he was also friends with heavyweight boxing champion Tommy Hearns, often accompanying him to fights.
Based at the Chalk & Cue pool lounge on West Seven Mile, Holloway operated a chain of sports apparel stores, potentially worth millions to Foot Locker Retail, Inc. at the time of his death. He also invested in Alabama land and managed Detroit apartment buildings through Renters Paradise, claiming a legal $17,000 monthly income. Despite facing law enforcement scrutiny in the late 1980s, Holloway skillfully managed his finances, portraying himself as a professional gambler on tax returns.
As the 1980s concluded, Holloway faced attacks from law enforcement and three rival organizations. His life took a tragic turn when his lifelong friend and partner, Maserati Rick, was fatally shot in 1988. Fearing his own demise, Holloway orchestrated his abduction, staying away from conflict. He eventually returned to Detroit, married his girlfriend in Las Vegas, but couldn't escape the city's allure.
On October 8, 1990, at 4 pm EST, Lester Milton shot Holloway in the back of the head inside The Broadway store. Holloway, armed with a pistol and $17,000, couldn't defend himself. Lester's brother, Tommy, served as the getaway driver. A decade later, both brothers were convicted of the murder.
Regarded as the king of Motown's cocaine scene in the late 1980s, Holloway's life was documented in the 2010 documentary "Detroit Connection 3: Last Man Standing." His influence endures in Detroit's underworld culture, acknowledged in rap lyrics by local artist "G. Twilight."