KENT COUNTY, Mich. – Less than a month after police say he shot his girlfriend, robbed a local business, stole a car and led police on a wild chase through the streets of Grand Rapids, Theo Little is speaking to FOX 17 News.
From a Kent County jail facility, Little video chatted with FOX 17 to talk about thoseApril 28 events. Little said the violence was sparked by a Child Protective Services case involving his son. He accused his girlfriend and the shooting victim, Daphanie Joiner, of being the reason CPS took his 4-year-old, but the reason for the action has not been confirmed yet.
Little has his own theory – one he said acted as the reason for allegedly shooting Joiner.
“She [was] playing games with my son’s life,” Little said. “She got him took by CPS, and she been notified since December to get off the drugs, whatever she was using, or they was going to take my son. So I felt that she didn’t care about my son, why should I care about her?”
Joiner survived the shooting, but Little indicated their relationship had been rocky long before the assault.
“It’s more like one person trying to deal with what the other person tear down, that was going on for a minute,” he said. “I was trying my best not to give up on [her], even though I left a few times, I always came back because of my son. And even though I done what I done to her, I still love her. That’s why I left her alive and I left her out – she was still alive when I left.”
Once Little did leave that day, police say he went to Specialized Staffing Solutions on 28th Street in Kentwood. There, he forced employees into a back room and according to court documents, groped one of the female employees before stealing money and a car – the same one used in the subsequent chase with authorities.
Little says of the entire day, this is the only thing he regrets.
“That was the most stupidity that I have done throughout the whole thing, the only thing that didn’t make sense, but I needed some money and I needed a car to get out of town," Little said. "It wasn’t the plan, but like I said I was in rage. I was mad and I really didn’t care about life no more. The only thing I cared about was taken from me, and in my eyes this is the way I felt.”
Little now faces a long list of charges including assault with intent to murder, criminal sexual conduct, armed robbery and felony weapons charges. If convicted, he could face up to life in prison, something he says he is prepared for.
“I will tell you this,” he said, “the only thing I do regret is not seeing my son anymore, that’s what I do regret out of everything. And I regret the possibility not ever seeing my mother again. Other than that I am prepared for it.”
