DETROIT – Detroit Police Chief James Craig held a news conference Thursday afternoon to provide an update on the fatal shooting of a auto parts store manager on the city's west side.
James Haller Jr. was a Vietnam veteran and had retired from General Motors. He was 69.
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."
A $12,500 cash reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest. O'Reilly is providing $10,000 of that reward. Contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.
Thursday's update
You can watch the full press conference with Craig here:
You can watch the impassioned statement from Haller's wife here:
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:
"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.
Police were asking the public to look out for a maroon SUV with a broken rear passenger window, possibly covered with plastic and has a cracked windshield, police said.