The owner and an employee of Master’s Auto Repair in Detroit were fatally shot by a customer over a repair bill. A third employee was shot in the leg. Simon Shaykhet of WJBK FOX 2 reports on the shooting.
Below is the article as it appeared on the WJBK FOX 2 website.
Detroit Police Arrest Suspect in Auto Shop Slaying that Left 2 Dead
Updated: Wednesday, 31 Mar 2010, 8:07 AM EDT
Published : Tuesday, 30 Mar 2010, 8:02 PM EDT
By Simon Shaykhet
DETROIT – There was a deadly dispute Tuesday at an auto repair shop on Detroit’s east side. Two people were shot and killed.
Detroit Police describe a violent double murder. A gunman opened fire at Master’s Auto Repair, killed two people and wounded a third in the leg. One of the two dead was the owner of the family business that has been around for several years.
"He was lovely, and he was nice and always joking, and he did excellent work. I’ve known him for years and I’ve never known him to have a problem with anybody," said Charming Fuller.
The suspect got away on foot. His gold, 1996 Bonneville still sits on the hoist. The car is crucial to the investigation. Police tell us the suspect bought it from the owner, brought it back with some problems and then came back a third time was his gun refusing to pay the tab.
"This centers around a disputed auto repair bill, and we believe it was the customer who was not happy with the outcome of the transaction," said Detroit Police Spokesman John Roach.
Police arrived on the scene at 3:30 in the afternoon. The intersection of Conant and Remington remained blocked off for most of the day.
Relatives identified the deceased owner as 43-year-old Chris Swails. The man shot in the leg is a worker and identified as 37-year-old Larry Masters. He is being treated at a nearby hospital. The name of the co-owner killed is not being released.
Police have tracked down the suspect, 27-year-old Venson Hibbett. They found him at a bus station.
To read this article on the WJBK FOX 2 website, visit http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/news/local/3-shot-at-detroit-gas-station-2-dead.
