Burks Enters Guilty Plea on Dr. Hoover Murder Case and Road Rage Case

Published on January 21, 2026

On August 8, 2024, Prosecutor Kym Worthy charged Desmond Burks, 35, of Detroit, with First-Degree Premeditated Murder, Felony Murder, Larceny of $20,000 or more, Using a Computer to Commit a Crime, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and three counts of Felony Firearm, in connection with the homicide of Dr. Devon Hoover.

Today, Burks pleaded guilty to Second-Degree Murder during jury selection. He also pleaded guilty to Larceny of $20,000 or more, Using a Computer to Commit a Crime, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and Felony Firearm. The defendant has a sentence agreement of 35 to 60 years in the Michigan Department of Corrections and a five-year consecutive sentence for the weapons charge.

Burks also pleaded guilty in a separate Manslaughter case that occurred during an April 17, 2024, road rage incident that killed Mr. Reda Saleh, 67, of Dearborn. He has a sentence agreement of 10 to 15 years in the Michigan Department of Corrections that will be served concurrently. *

His sentencing is scheduled for February 20, 2026, at 9:00 a.m., before Judge Paul Cusick.

*See the plea forms attached.

Plea-Form-Burks-M1-CaseSigned1.21.26.pdf(PDF, 157KB)

Plea-Form-Burks-M2-CaseSigned1.21.26.pdf(PDF, 162KB)

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