Oakland County Circuit Judge Jeffery Matis recently ruled that a man accused of killing a sex worker in Southfield last year is competent for trial, based on results of a psychiatric/psychological exam.
Robert Louis Ridges, 30, is charged with second-degree homicide, carrying a concealed weapon and felony firearm for the fatal shooting of Jamal “Tahiry” Broom, 29, whose body was found outside the Riverstone Apartments in the 25000 block of Shiawassee Road on Feb. 9, 2025. Broom, who was dressed in women’s clothing, was a member of the transgender community, police said. He was shot once in the head.
To be competent for trial, a defendant must be mentally capable to assist in his or her defense in a rational manner — which includes demonstrated understanding of his or her rights, criminal charges he or she is facing, and the nature of the proceedings. The evaluation was court ordered this past February.
Robert Ridges booking photo
According to the Southfield Police Department, investigators determined that prior to the shooting Ridges had made approximately 33 calls to sex workers that morning — including Broom — and mostly all those sought by Ridges were heavy-set black women or men who were trangendered females.
Broom and Ridges spoke on the phone several times that morning including in a Facetime conversation, police said, and footage from surveillance video subsequently recorded Broom entering the Riverstone Apartments. Approximately 11 hours after Broom’s body was found, Ridges was arrested at the MGM Casino in Detroit where law enforcement had tracked him, officials said.
According to police, during interviews with detectives Ridges tried to explain what led to the shooting — and claimed that he didn’t know Broom was transgendered.
A search of Ridges’ home turned up a Sig Sauer 9mm handgun from his bedroom, and tests revealed it was the same weapon used to kill Broom, police said. The handgun was reported stolen out of Georgia in July 2023.
Ridges is held in the Oakland County Jail, denied bond. Trial is scheduled for Dec. 7.
Judge: Woman accused in hit and run that injured child can get out of jail if monitored by GPS
Highland man dead after falling in Duck Lake while cleaning boat
Southfield woman admits to submitting nearly $100K in bogus rent assistance applications