MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. – A Macomb County business owner testified Thursday that he was shot outside his home just days after pressing his longtime office manager for credit card statements.
The testimony came during the preliminary examination of Jasan Martin, 32, of Eastpointe, and Rachard and Dawn Huffman, 39 and 44, both of Sterling Heights.
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Martin has been charged with assault with intent to murder, possession of a weapon by a prohibited person, carrying a weapon with an unlawful intent and three counts of felony firearm, in connection with the shooting. He was also charged as a habitual offender. All three face charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and Rachard and Dawn, who are married, also face conspiracy to commit embezzlement charges. Jasan is Rachard’s brother.
For more than 20 years, Dawn worked for Eddie Jawad, who owns several gas stations and other businesses in Metro Detroit. She is accused of using a credit card that was meant for utility bills for Jawad’s properties to embezzle more than $100,000.
Jawad was the first person that was called to testify. He said he owns 18 gas stations in Michigan through Jawad Group Management and Jawad Investments, along with several Dunkin’ Donuts and Tasty Burger locations and other real estate. He started his business about 25 years ago.
Jawad testified that Dawn worked for him for over 20 years, rising from secretary to office manager within her first year. She handled payroll, balanced bank statements, communicated with banks and managed daily financial sheets for the gas stations. There was no oversight above her other than Jawad.
“I trusted her,” Jawad told the court.
He said Dawn earned between $70,000 and $80,000 annually, which included a $2,500 bonus check each month. Jawad said that she processed her own paychecks because she handled payroll.
Over the years, Jawad said he loaned her money, helped her buy two homes, paid for her wedding and purchased cars for her. Dawn would also get $50 a week to fill up her tank at one of the gas stations, according to the businessman.
Dawn also would use $1,000 of her monthly bonus each month to pay back any loans she had taken from him.
He testified that about 15 years ago, Dawn suggested opening a Capital One business credit card to pay DTE utility bills, and asked if she could use the reward points for travel. Jawad agreed. He said he never physically possessed the card and that Dawn controlled the account, including the password and statements.
The card was intended strictly for business utility payments, he said. He testified he never authorized Dawn or her husband, Rachard, to use the card for personal expenses such as groceries or online shopping.
In the days before the shooting, Jawad said he repeatedly asked Dawn for the credit card statements, giving her multiple deadlines.
After failing to meet Thursday and Friday deadlines, Jawad asked for the statement again on Monday, Oct. 13, 2025.
She told him she had to leave early on Monday, saying she would provide the statements the next day.
“Did she give you the statements on Tuesday, Oct. 14?” the prosecution asked.
“No. I got shot on Tuesday, Oct. 14,” Jawad said.
Jawad described backing his Range Rover out of his garage and driving down his Macomb Township driveway that morning when he heard what he initially thought was a rock hitting his vehicle. He then heard additional “bangs” and realized someone was shooting at him.
“Someone’s trying to kill me,” he recalled thinking.
Surveillance video shown in court depicts a suspect emerging from between vehicles parked in the driveway and firing at Jawad’s moving SUV. Jawad said he heard about 10 shots and felt a “pinch” in his leg.
Photos introduced in court showed injuries to both legs and glass fragments in his arm. He was treated at a hospital and released the same day.
Jawad said he spoke with Dawn later that day and that her demeanor did not seem unusual. She continued working for three days after the shooting. He ultimately received the requested credit card statements from her that Saturday. He said the statement, dated Sept. 11, 2025, showed only DTE transactions.
After that, he received a text message from Dawn, in which she said she couldn’t come to work in the office anymore because she didn’t feel comfortable doing so following her brother-in-law’s arrest.
During cross-examination, a defense attorney questioned Jawad about his relationship with Dawn, and he testified that he treated her “like a daughter” and expected honesty from her.
The attorney also questioned Jawad’s relationship with the Macomb County prosecutor. After a brief private discussion with both sides, the judge ruled that questions about whether the businessman was friends with the prosecutor could not be asked during the preliminary examination, but may be addressed later in a potential evidentiary hearing.