DETROIT – A man has died after he was allegedly chased out of a gas station by an employee who shot at him, which led to him jumping onto the Lodge Freeway, where he died from his injuries.
The incident occurred on Wednesday (Dec. 11) at 10:15 p.m. in the 12000 block of West McNichols Road, where Detroit Police Department Deputy Chief Franklin Hayes said he demanded answers.
“We’re standing here demanding accountability from the business owner as well as their staff for the incident that happened last week, which was reprehensible,” said Hayes.
Officials say an employee came from behind the glass due to a shoplifting incident and began firing at an individual who they believe was shoplifting.
“Those actions, putting this community in danger, is not OK,” Hayes said. “It is not acceptable, and for that, under the authority under the chief of police in concert with the city of Detroit’s Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environment Department (BSEED), as you see, we are not here alone as we are joined by members of the city council and police commissioners as well as members of this community, we are going to demand and insists on accountability,” Hayes said.
Officers were observing the area when they said they saw the gas station employee chasing the victim at gunpoint.
The employee allegedly fired a shot at the victim, which led them to arrest the employee.
Officials said they searched for the victim but saw that he had jumped onto the Lodge Freeway.
He was transported to a Metro Detroit hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
“I will be placating this business, and their license is hereby suspended, and they will not be allowed to operate continually as it has in the city of Detroit at the moment,” Hayes said.
A warrant has been submitted to the Wayne County Prosecutors Office for the actions of the store employee.
This isn’t the first time an employee was involved in a deadly incident at this station.
In may of 2023, a seperate clerk was charged after he locked himself and four customers inside the business before one of the men opened fire, killing a customer and injuring two others.
The employee said one of the men was shoplifting. The employee, later identified as Al-Hassan Aiyash, was charged with involuntary manslaughter.
Prosecutors say he was grossly negligent with his actions. But those charges were later dropped.
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