OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – A mother who says strangers helped get her and her two young daughters to safety during a shooting at Great Lakes Crossing Outlets is asking the public for help finding the two people she and her daughters can’t stop thinking about.
“I have been searching since the incident happened for two individuals who helped myself and my two daughters get out safely when the mass chaos occurred,” Ashley Hilliard wrote in a message she has posted across social media. “Mentally, I need to do this.”
“They’re so selfless, and they were willing to risk their own lives for my children that they didn’t even know,” Hilliard later told Local 4. “There’s still good in this world. There’s still good people. And I’m sure they didn’t even think twice about stopping to help.”
The shooting happened Saturday in the Great Lakes Crossing Outlets’ food court in Auburn Hills, police said.
A 20-year-old man, identified as Keshawn Emery of Pontiac, was killed.
A 19-year-old woman was also shot but is expected to survive.
The shooting allegedly happened after a fight inside a bathroom.
‘It’s okay, I have her’
Hilliard said the day started out as a fun one for her kids, 6-year-old Paisleigh and 4-year-old Blakeleigh, who were having what she called the best “princess day” at the mall before everything turned into chaos.
The girls were there for the princess party with three other family members, including another toddler, Hilliard’s goddaughter, who is only three years old.
“We took them into the salon, and they had their nails done and their hair done. They had glitter, and we had all met outside to try and figure out someplace to eat,” Hilliard said.
Hilliard said they were initially going to eat in the food court, where the shooting happened moments later, but settled on HopCat. As the group started eating, Hilliard said her wife walked out to their car to grab medicine.
“Then as I looked up, I just see a wave of people running towards the restaurant,” Hilliard said. “Be quiet, there’s a shooter.” You have “go” like it’s all of these things, like which one are we doing?”
Hilliard said that during all the chaos, she tripped and fell.
Then, she said she was trampled.
Hilliard’s wife said that during all of this, she, too, was trampled outside while trying to get back inside to reach her family.
Hilliard said that while on the ground, she tried to reach for her children but couldn’t.
“I remember hearing someone say, ‘It’s okay, I have her,’ as they picked up my 6-year-old daughter and helped get her safely out,” she said. “As I was moving forward with the little one, some other guy picked her up and said I have her and then we were able to get out. My legs felt like cement.”
Hilliard said she does not have a description of the gentleman, but her 6-year-old described the helper as an African-American woman with dark hair pulled up into a bun and what looked like straws in her pocket.
She said she knows it may be a long shot, but Hilliard said the girls have been talking about drawing pictures for the two helpers, and she hopes they can one day thank them in person.
“In a frightening moment, they helped protect my children, and I will never forget that kindness,” Hilliard said.
Hilliard is asking anyone who was there, knows someone who was, or has information about the two heroes to reach out.
If you were one of the people who helped Hilliard’s daughters at HopCat or you know who they are, she’s asking you to please contact her.
“I also have to say the staff from HopCat was extremely amazing during the situation as well as after; they deserve a huge shoutout,” Hilliard said.
As for the shooting, Hilliard said she does not want to go “anywhere near that mall.” She said her girls are only just beginning to process what happened, but: “It’s OK,” Paisleigh said. “I forgive them for fighting.”
The shooting investigation
Police said the suspect, who Local 4 has learned is named Amuri, is 22 years old and is a valid Concealed Pistol License holder.
He allegedly told investigators he was attacked by two people before opening fire.
The Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office said Thursday (July 16) that a charging decision has not been made as it continues to review the case.
The suspect has been released pending further investigation.
Amuri’s father told Local 4 that his son is “a good person who would never want to hurt anyone.”
He said Amuri “is a father, a loving son” and an older sibling to his many brothers & sisters.
“We send our sincerest condolences to the families of the victims. Violence as a whole has to stop,” Amuri’s father added. “Too many young people losing their lives. We must get back to loving one another and coexisting together.”
Video from inside the mall could be key as investigators and prosecutors evaluate the suspect’s claim of self-defense.
The video appears to show two people punching and kicking a man on the ground before he pulls a gun and fires.
Local 4 showed six seconds of video to longtime Detroit attorney Lillian Diallo.
“It’s two against one. He is getting kicked in his face and head area. These are all areas that could seriously injure, if not kill you,” Diallo said.
Diallo added that prosecutors likely have additional video but said that, based on what she reviewed, the self-defense argument appeared strong.
“This would be a defense attorney’s dream case if there is such a thing as far as self-defense. It’s textbook,” Diallo said.