Unlikely excuse of Michigan man, 21, arrested for shooting 23 year-old fiancée dead
A Michigan man, 21, offered a dubious excuse for allegedly shooting his 23-year-old fiancée to death, according to police who arrested him.
Before being taken into custody last week, Michael Devon Webb claimed on a 911 call that while he was cleaning his gun, he accidentally shot Rachel Renee Wooten, the mother of their six-month-old child.
The Oakland County Sheriff's Office said in a release that 'the evidence did not support' Webb's explanation.
The April 15 shooting took place at the young family's home in Highland Township, a small suburb about 45 miles northwest of Detroit.
Wooten was found dead inside the home with a single gunshot wound to the neck from close range.
Webb, also in the house when police arrived, had a non-fatal gunshot wound, which he claimed was from the same bullet that killed Wooten, according to the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office.
The baby was also found in the home but was unharmed.
Webb has been charged with first-degree murder in what the county prosecutor described as a 'domestic violence death.'
Rachel Renee Wooten was found dead in her Highland Township home on April 15 from a close-range gunshot wound to the neck, according to county police and prosecutors
Wooten's fiancé, 21-year-old Michael Devon Webb, claimed on a 911 call that he shot her by accident while cleaning his gun. Police didn't buy this explanation and he has since been charged with first degree murder
'Rachel Wooten was just 23 and a mother of an infant,' Prosecutor Karen D. McDonald said in a statement.
'Her entire life was ahead of her, until it was ended in what appears to be a domestic violence tragedy. She won't be there for her child or other loved ones in her life. I'm committed to bringing her killer to justice.'
Sheriff Michael Bouchard described Webb's excuses as a 'false offered narrative' and praised his detectives.
'I am proud of our investigators and team that responded to a tragic death and unraveled a false offered narrative to hold an individual accountable,' Bouchard said.
Webb was booked into the Oakland County Jail before being arraigned Friday before Magistrate Judge Andra Richardson in 52-1 District Court in Novi, Michigan.
Judge Richardson remanded him to custody without bond and is scheduled to appear in court again for a probable cause hearing on April 30.
If convicted, Webb faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Heather Wooten, the younger sister of Rachel Wooten, organized a GoFundMe to help get custody of Aspen, Rachel's baby.
Heather Wooten, the younger sister of Rachel Wooten, organized a GoFundMe to help get custody of Aspen, Rachel's baby (pictured)
'My sister was murdered by her fiancé on April 15th, 2025,' Heather wrote. 'Just 6 months after she welcomed sweet baby Aspen into this world, her life was taken from her.'
Heather described Rachel as 'the best sissy in the entire world, my rock, and my best friend.'
'I am currently fighting for custody of sweet baby Aspen, who is currently in custody of the incarcerated father’s mother. My sister wanted me to take care of Aspen if anything happened to her and I would appreciate any help through this process,' Heather continued.
As of late Wednesday morning, the GoFundMe has raised just over $3,400 toward the $5,000 goal.
A member of the Wooten family declined to speak to DailyMail.com.
