Murder trial date set for teens

Two teen-agers are scheduled to stand trial May 27 in Washtenaw County Circuit Court in connection with the shooting death of a “Good Samaritan.”

Darrin Ray Watkins of Superior Township and Thomas Edward Ross of Inkster, both 17, were arraigned Tuesday by Judge William F. Ager Jr. They stood mute to murder charges, and not guilty pleas were entered on their behalf by Ager. The two defendants are confined to the county jail.

Witnesses testified during a preliminary hearing last month that the pair killed Donald Schroeder of Ypsilanti Township in front of the K-mart store at 3100 Washtenaw Ave. on Jan. 25.

Schroder, a Vietnam veteran and surgical technician at Mott Children’s Hospital, attempted to stop the two from fleeing after they had unsuccessfully tried to snatch a 19-year-old woman’s purse, according to witnesses.