WESTLAND, Mich. (WXYZ) — A man who was working as a Salvation Army bell ringer was shot and killed at a Kroger store in Westland on Thursday evening.
Watch Randy Wimbley's video report:
Police said the shooting happened around 6:20 p.m. at the store on Ford Road near Central City Parkway.
Watch Brett Kast's Thursday video report below:
It's unclear at this time what led up to the shooting.
The victim has been identified as 47-year-old Alvin Echols, who was shot several times and collapsed inside the store. Officers tried to render life-saving aide, but he succumbed to his wounds.
Echols mother, Mary, spoke with reporters not long after learning about the suspect's arrest.
"I'm very happy that they have a suspect because I can't eat, I can't sleep," she said. "They took my son away from me as he was working, working for the Salvation Army, going to church every Sunday. They took all that away."
A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family.
"That's my only son and they took him away like his life didn't matter at all, like his life wasn't worth anything," Mary Echols said. "I'll never get over this."
The suspect is a teenage boy, Westland Mayor Kevin Coleman confirmed.
On Friday, police confirmed that the suspect was arrested earlier in the morning. The identity of the suspect is being withheld until his arraignment.
Alvin Echols' younger sister, Amanda Stamper, said her brother made friends anywhere he went.
"He could be walking to the store, and he would make friends. Ringing the bell, he's going to make friends. He's just going to be a joy and I don't understand why someone would think i just want to take your life," Stamper said. “On camera, it was him ringing the bell, and someone came up to him, and they shot. And then we're hearing he ran inside the store and they ran behind him and finished what they were trying to do.”
Stamper is torn up over her brother's murder and grieved for her children, who will experience their first Christmas without him.
"How do we have our kids wake up happy in the morning when they look forward to Uncle Peewee dressing up as Santa and bringing them gifts on Christmas Day? That's completely taken away from us," she said.
Police said the incident is not a random occurrence, and the victim and the suspect knew each other.
All of it is stirring up questions in Mary Echols’ broken heart that may never be answered.
“How could you do this to my family? To his family? How could you take him away? What did he do to deserve this? I want to know. What did he do to deserve killing him? Chasing him down and killing him?”
The Salvation Army released the following statement:
“The Salvation Army is profoundly heartbroken by the tragic incident that took place tonight at the Kroger in Westland. We lift up in prayer all who are affected, especially the individual involved, their loved ones and the Westland community. We are working closely with the Westland Police Department as they investigate the situation.”
- Lt. Col. Steve Merritt, divisional commander for The Salvation Army Great Lakes Division
Kroger released a statement that reads:
We are deeply saddened by the incident that occurred outside of our Westland Kroger located at 36430 Ford Road. We are cooperating with local law enforcement, and will continue to follow their guidance while the police investigation continues. To protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation, we are deferring all questions to Westland Police Department.
