Two women caught on surveillance video are accused of shooting and killing a man in his 70s at O’Reilly Auto Parts on Detroit’s west side.
It happened after 5:30 on Wednesday night at the store at 16830 Schaefer Hwy.
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According to police, the two women walked into the store and casually shopped, then went behind the counter and demanded cash from the female clerk.
Police tell 7 Action News that a manager, a man in his 70s, came up to see what was going on and that’s when one of the women fired a shot and hit him.
"Through the course of the robbery as they're getting ready to flee, one of the suspects turned with the gun and fired one shot, striking our subject, he was taken to a local hospital and unfortunately he's deceased,” said Capt. Darin Szilagy, with Detroit Police Department.
There’s at least a third person involved, not caught on camera, the driver of the getaway vehicle. A maroon SUV parked in front of the store.
"The SUV is either Suburban or Tahoe type vehicle, it has a broken rear passenger window with plastic over it, a cracked windshield and possibly a cracked rear window,” said Szilagy.
Police said they want to catch these women as soon as they can.
"From what I understand he was a hard working man, an older man, trying to make a living. He's definitely an unnecessary victim, something that did not have to turn to violence. Robbery is a crime in itself but to escalate it to this point for no reason that I can see, it's inexcusable,” said Szilagy.
Family has identified the victim as 75-year-old James Haller Jr. They say he is a Vietnam veteran and a retired GM plant worker.
The victim's daughter is pleading with the public to turn the suspects in to police.
“Please, turn them in, turn them in because he had family, he had kids, he had grandkids, he had great grandkids," said Jaime Haller-Sharpe.
If you see that vehicle or know who these women are, call police right away.
Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for up to $12,500 for any tip that leads to an arrest.
To submit a tip, call 1-800-SPEAK-UP.
