SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – The owners of Bloom Southfield are speaking out after a fatal shooting outside the business that left one woman dead and another injured early Saturday morning.
Alex Fields, 33, was killed in the shooting, which began as a domestic incident during a birthday celebration at the bar, according to owner Kenny Valentino.
“It’s very unfortunate that someone came in here to celebrate life and didn’t make it home,” Valentino said.
Security video shows the moments when the group got into an argument in the parking lot. A few minutes later, Valentino says an armed security guard was trying to break up the argument when he claims Fields grabbed a gun.
“The security guard asked one of the patrons to lower their weapon multiple times, and she listened to one of the security guards, and kind of shifted toward another one - again asking her multiple times to lower her weapon,” Valentino said.
The security video shows some kind of altercation with the security guard before shots were fired. Valentino said the security guard was taken into custody and has since been released.
“The security was out there, and they were actively trying to dismantle the situation, so it didn’t escalate, unfortunately they weren’t successful in that,” Valentino said.
Fields’ father, Alan Fields, provided the following statement to Local 4:
“As you might imagine, we are still processing this tragedy. Although I am not up for an interview, I can share some thoughts about Alex.
She was such a joy. As a child, she was shy but extremely funny.
She excelled in academics and sports, especially basketball, playing for Bloomfield Hills Andover in high school and for Eastern Michigan University in college.
She was part of the 2012 MAC championship women’s basketball team at Eastern Michigan University. She graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 2015.
She was kind, thoughtful, and loved by our family and friends.
Alex cared deeply for those less fortunate and worked tirelessly on social justice causes while with the Neighborhood Defender Service of the Detroit Public Defender’s Office. She was intelligent and a hard worker.
Words cannot express the sadness this tragedy has caused for me, her siblings, and our family."
Alan Fields
The incident has sparked safety concerns from residents of the nearby Chateau Villa Condominiums. In response, Valentino plans to meet with the condo association and implement new safety measures, including additional signage and a parking lot attendant to prevent customers from using the complex’s visitor parking area.
“We grew up in the area,” Valentino said. “We’re not just guys that are here trying to make a dollar and leave; we are invested in this community, and if you have any issues, they can come over and see us.”
Southfield police are still awaiting a charging decision from the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office and plan to hold a press conference once a decision is made.