MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. – A Macomb County courtroom was filled with raw emotion Friday as the family of a party store owner who was fatally shot during an attempted robbery told the man who pulled the trigger that they forgave him.
Emil Salem died March 26, 2015, when would-be robbers stormed Bernie’s Market on Garfield Road.
Salem exchanged gunfire with the assailants, and died of a gunshot to the head.
Ujuan Burton was charged as the shooter. He pleaded guilty to felony murder, armed robbery and weapons charges, and was sentenced Friday to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
“The world is clearly not a better place without Emil Salem in it. However, the world is a far better place without you in it,” Judge Richard Caretti told Burton.
Salem’s sister in law, Rita Shaba, read a statement on behalf of Salem’s widow.
“I forgive you, I forgive you, I forgive you. May God have mercy on your soul,” she said.
Burton also addressed his family in court.
“I love you. I’m sorry that you all had so much faith in me. I failed you all,” he said. “His pain is over, but mine is everlasting.”
Two other people were also charged in connection with Salem’s death, Shardae Burton and Albert McKinley.