photo courtesy of Fox2Detroit
A Detroit, Michigan, gas station clerk was charged with involuntary manslaughter on Thursday, May 18. Al-Hassan Aiyash, 22, was arraigned for his involvement in a violent shooting that took place. Authorities and officials explained, according to Fox2Detroit, that the clerk locked the doors of the gas station he worked at, trapping several customers inside. At the same time, he incited an argument with a gunman.
The incident occurred around 3 AM on May 6 on the 12800 block of West McNichols Road. Aiyash got into an altercation with 27-year-old Samuel McCray when the man attempted to buy $4 worth of items in the gas station. After McCray’s card was declined, he attempted to leave with the things without paying. Police said that Aiyash locked the store doors to prevent McCray from going, effectively locking three innocent people inside as well. The customers trapped inside included a 60-year-old man, a 37-year-old man, and Gregory Kelly, 37. All the bystanders begged Aiyash to unlock the door and let them out as he argued with McCray. McCray eventually got incredibly agitated and drew a gun.
Aiyash then unlocked the front doors with a remote security button but didn’t explicitly tell the customers trying to get out. McCray fired at them, killing Gregory Kelly and injuring the others.
McCray has since been charged with “first-degree murder, felon in possession of a firearm, two counts of assault with intent to murder, and three felony firearm violations.”
Charges were also brought against Aiyash, though Detroit prosecutors accused him of causing Kelly’s death by locking the only exit and preventing him and the other injured customers from getting away from what was incited into a dangerous situation.
Kym Worthy, Wayne County Prosecutor, said, “The allegations of the defendant locking the door of the store and not heeding the pleas of the men to be released led to tragic consequences in this case.”
Aiyash’s bond was set at $200,000 in cash, stipulating that if he were released, he would have to wear a GPS tether and “submit to home confinement.” The gas station clerk’s subsequent hearings are scheduled for the following weeks.