BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A West Bloomfield man has been charged with felonious assault after he reportedly brought a pellet gun to the Jewish Federation of Detroit’s building in Bloomfield Township.
Police and witnesses believed the gun was real during the incident.
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Officials with the Bloomfield Township police and the Jewish Federation both said the incident was not antisemitic, but seemed to stem from a mental health crisis.
On Thursday, Nov. 2, Bloomfield Township police arrested a man with a pellet gun who was in the parking lot of the Max M. Fisher Federation Building. The building went into lockdown due to the man’s presence.
Police said Steven Daniel Zalla, 55, attempted to enter the building but was denied entrance because he did not have proper identification to check-in. He then reportedly encountered a food delivery person, who said they saw Zalla had a gun in his waistband.
When a FedEx delivery driver arrived to deliver a package, police said Zalla ordered the driver to move the vehicle and when the driver did not move fast enough, Zalla reportedly took out the gun and pointed it at the driver. He then allegedly ran after the vehicle as the driver fled.
Authorities said police arrived shortly after 11:30 a.m. and found Zalla in his vehicle. He was arrested without incident.
Police recovered a silver revolver, which was later determined that it was a pellet gun.
Zalla was charged Monday, Nov. 6, with felonious assault. He was given a $100,000 bond and was ordered to wear a tether if he posts bond.
