TAYLOR, Mich. – A 49-year-old woman charged with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of her co-worker at the Burlington Coat Factory store in Taylor was bound over for trial on Monday.
Sandra Lynette Waller is charged in connection with the fatal shooting Oct. 16 inside the Burlington Coat Factory on Eureka Road. She is charged with first-degree murder and felony firearms violations.
The shooting happened after a dispute between Waller and the victim, a co-worker, Lorraine Faisson.
Details about the dispute were discussed during the preliminary hearing.
Assistant manager takes the stand
The first witness to take the stand at the preliminary examination was the assistant manager of the Burlington Coat Factory store.
She told the court about the argument that happened the day before the shooting. According to the assistant manager, Waller and Faisson got into a dispute about the proper way to scan aisles. Faisson told Waller she was doing it wrong. Waller told Faisson she couldn’t tell her what to do.
The dispute was brought to the supervisor’s attention and tried separating them to different departments, but ended up sending both women home.
The assistant manager told the court Waller said being moved to another department would make her look weak.
The defense asked about the store’s firearm policies.
First responder discusses arrest
The Taylor police officer who first responded to the scene of the shooting was greeting by Waller at the front door.
He placed Waller under arrest.
Dispatch told the officers that the firearm was in Waller’s waistband. The officer recovered a Glock 23.
The defense asked about Waller’s cooperation with the police. Authorities later found out Waller was a CPL holder.
Officer describes finding body
A second Taylor police officer took the stand and told the court about finding Faisson unresponsive in a storage room.
The officer described the bullet hole found in the storage room and the caliber of the bullet that caused the hole. The caliber matched the Glock 23 found on Waller.
The defense asked about the firearm, but the officer said he never came in contact with the pistol.
Detective takes the stand
Detective Joshua Snyder told the court about surveillance video from the Burlington Coat Factory on the day of the shooting and the day before showing the dispute.
Surveillance video was show to the court showing the firearm being pulled.
The defense argued that Waller should not be charged with first-degree murder and said second-degree murder or manslaughter charges are more appropriate.
The judge disagreed with the defense and Waller was bound over for trial.
What happened
The shooting happened around 7:05 a.m. Oct. 16. Faison was rushed to Beaumont Hospital in Taylor, where she was pronounced dead.
An argument between the two 49-year-old women began Sunday and resumed in the morning before the store opened, police said. Shouting and name-calling escalated to the point in which Waller allegedly pulled out a handgun and shot Faison in the chest, authorities said.
"The employees were coming in for work," Taylor police Cmdr. Richard Hopper said. "The store was not open to the public, and the employees were just checking in for work at the time."
Officers arrested Waller and recovered the gun. Police said she was waiting for them when they arrived at the scene.