OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – An Oakland County gun charge against a man accused of threatening a customer with a gun at a Kroger store has become a Second Amendment battle with the prosecutor’s office.
Isaiah Ware pulled a gun from its holster inside a Kroger store in Bloomfield Hills at Long Lake and Telegraph roads. Ware’s attorney says the gun was pulled in self defense in an effort to fend off a physical altercation at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 5, 2023.
The Oakland County prosecutor’s office charged Ware with felony assault with a deadly weapon after the incident.
Ware said he went to the grocery store to buy some lasagna for dinner when he bumped into another guy at the self-checkout. Officials say both men exchanged words before Ware, CPL holder, pulled out his firearm.
Another Kroger customer called police, who quickly arrived at the scene. Ware was arrested then.
Ware’s attorney says the case should have never gone to court, however.
Store security cameras showed Ware bumping into another customer, Calvin Williams, who wore a lime green shirt. Ware pulled out the gun with his right arm rising from his holster. You can see the surveillance footage in the video up above.
“He didn’t make any threatening motions with that weapon,” said Neal Brand, Ware’s defense attorney.
Ware can be seen in the video walking away from Williams, his gun in his right hand with a bottle of Windex and groceries in the other. Ware watched Williams as they parted.
“That ended the threat, and that ended the problem,” Brand claims.
Williams could be heard on police body camera footage providing his perspective of the situation.
“He didn’t point, but he pulled it where there were customers and people around,” Williams said.
Bloomfield Township police arrested Ware, and the prosecutor’s office charged him with assault with a deadly weapon.
“He defended himself, and what’s going on now is an assault on the Second Amendment for lawful citizens who are looking to defend themselves,” Brand argues.
Brand released more body camera video where Williams told police that he would’ve slammed Ware to the ground.
“To be honest, if he wouldn’t have had the gun on him, I would have slammed him to the ground right there,” Williams said.
“My client shouldn’t be charged with a crime,” Brand said. “The people in Oakland County, the prosecutor, should apologize and dismiss this case.”
Below is an official statement made by the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office to Local 4.
“Our number one priority is public safety. This case stems from an incident inside a grocery store where a witness called 911 and reported that a customer pulled a gun on another customer. The Bloomfield Township police responded immediately, investigated, and brought the case to our office for charges.
“Because this case remains pending, we will not comment further on the specific circumstances, but we take such cases very seriously, and we will continue to pursue appropriate charges.”
Oakland County Chief Assisting Prosecuting Attorney David Williams
The case goes to trial on Monday, June 17.