Gas station shut down after employee fires shots at customer on Detroit‘s east side

DETROIT – A gas station on Detroit’s east side has been shut down after an employee fired shots at a customer, causing him to get struck by glass.

The incident occurred on Monday (May 12) at 9:20 p.m. in the 3600 block of McNichols Road between the clerk in their late 20s and the victim in their mid-30s.

Detroit police Assistant Chief Franklin Hayes spoke about the shooting while expressing his frustration about being at the scene instead of engaging in community activities as summer approaches.

“We have a business owner who, with no regard for the safety of a resident here in the city of Detroit, used a firearm, pointed a firearm, shot at a customer here inside this location,” said Hayes.

Hayes confirmed that the customer was taken to a Metro Detroit hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

The clerk involved in the incident has been arrested.

Hayes emphasized that the Detroit Police Department, in partnership with the city’s law department, would shut down the business.

“You will operate with regard, you will operate with respect, and you will treat the residents of our community in just that way,” Hayes said.

He noted that the clerk’s actions were unacceptable and that the department would not tolerate such behavior.

Hayes mentioned that the clerk was being interviewed as part of the investigation, but he could not disclose the clerk’s reasoning for the shooting.

“Using the digital evidence that we had here, we certainly had enough to arrest the clerk,” Hayes said.

The clerk is currently awaiting criminal charges at the Detroit Detention Center.

Hayes also addressed the nature of the incident, stating that there was no threat to the clerk’s life, as he was behind bulletproof glass at the time of the shooting.

He added that the injuries sustained by the patron were likely caused by shards of glass from the bulletproof barrier.

When asked about the gas station’s history, Hayes confirmed that it was not previously considered a nuisance and had not received any calls for service.

However, due to recent events, the business would be removed from the city’s green light partnership program.

“Digital evidence certainly is valuable in criminal prosecution,” Hayes said, indicating that video footage would be used in court.

Hayes acknowledged ongoing conversations with the gas station’s owners, who stated that they were not pleased with the decision to shut down the business.

Hayes issued a warning to other clerks across the city.

“If this happens again, they will see me, and they will see this group, they will see angry residents protesting their business,” Hayes said. “This is not okay. Anyone that makes a decision to do this, we will shut you down.”

The press conference concluded with Hayes confirming that the weapon used in the incident was a 12-gauge shotgun, which was recovered at the scene.

Detroit police Assistant Chief Franklin Hayes talks gas station shooting on city’s west side