Teen Pleads Guilty in 2013 Murder of French Artist Near Brewster-Douglass

Bilal Berreni

One of the defendants charged in the murder of French street artist Bilal Berreni, 23, who was found shot in the head on July 29, 2013, near the Brewster-Douglass housing project on the city's east side, pleaded guilty Thursday in Wayne County Circuit Court.

Jasin Curtis, who is in his late teens, pleaded guilty before Judge Bruce Morrow in a plea that calls for a sentence of between 25-40 years, plus two years for felony firearm. Sentencing is set for June 12.

Two other defendants in the case,  Dionte Darryl Travis and Drequone Lamar Rich, will face trial in September.

At the time of the charges, Wayne County Prosescutor Kym Worthy issued a statement saying:

“It sickens me that a young, talented artist who had traveled the world to pursue his passion was murdered here, thus reinforcing the stereotypes for many about our City of Detroit."

The Free Press reported last year that the French artist traveled the world in places like Tunisia where he did paintings on cardboard of folks who had been killed in the revolution.  He spent time in a Libyan border to paint images of refugees.

Berreni, 23, was living in Detroit when his body was discovered at St. Antoine and Alfred streets.