DETROIT – The family of a Detroit auto parts store manager who was shot to death Wednesday during a robbery is pleading for the grandfather's killers to come forward.
Jaime Haller said her father James Haller Jr. was a good person. The 75-year-old had retired from General Motors. He was a Vietnam veteran.
"He loved working here, and they had no reason to take my daddy," said Jaime Haller.
The deadly robbery happened about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the O'Reilly Auto Parts store on Schaefer Highway at West Six Mile Road. Police said surveillance video shows two females walking into the store and milling around for a while before one of them pulled out a gun and announced a robbery. Police said she is the one shown on video wearing a white tank top.
The women were clearing out the cash registers when Jaime Haller walked right into it.
"The female with a gun ordered him to the ground. The manager complied and as they were completing their robbery, she spun around and unfortunately shot him," Detroit police Capt. Darin Szilagy said. "There was no reason to shoot this gentleman. Absolutely none. So it's especially heinous. It sickens us, and we're asking the public to help bring some resolution and some justice for this family. This man was murdered in cold blood for no reason."
Video shows robbery, shooting
The surveillance video shows the robbery and the moment Haller was fatally shot. Other customers are shown taking cover on the floor and in the corner.
Watch the video here:
Haller's family and detectives hope someone saw something and knows who the women are.
"I know somebody somewhere knows who them girls are. I know y'all know who they are. They didn't have to take my daddy," said Jaime Haller.
Jaime Haller said she is begging for someone to call police with information. Her father had six kids and at least 12 grandchildren.
Police also are asking the public to look out for a maroon SUV with a broken rear passenger window. It's possibly covered in plastic and has a cracked windshield, police said.
No detailed description of the women was released.