Detroit is banning gas stations from locking customers inside, a year after a fatal shooting
The city of Detroit is taking steps to ban gas stations from locking people inside the store
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The city of Detroit is taking steps to ban gas stations from locking people inside the store, a year after a man was fatally shot during an argument with another customer.
Police said a clerk's decision to lock the door while he was safely behind protective glass contributed to the shooting.
An ordinance approved Tuesday by the Detroit City Council would make it illegal for employees to push a button to remotely lock the door. It would apply to businesses whose workers are protected by glass, The Detroit News reported.
“The goal of this is to ensure that we keep the threat outside the convenience store, gas station, liquor stores or party stores,” council member James Tate said.
In May 2023, the failure to complete a $3.80 electronic purchase led to violence.
Video showed Samuel McCray repeatedly cursing and insisting he was going to leave a gas station with the items. Three more people entered before clerk Al-Hassan Aiyash pushed a button to lock the door, keeping the four inside.
Those three people were shot, and one of them died. McCray is facing charges of murder and attempted murder. Aiyash is charged with involuntary manslaughter. Their cases are pending.
“If not for the fact that he locked the door, none of this would have happened,” Judge Kenneth King said of Aiyash.
Aiyash's attorney said he didn't know McCray had a gun when he locked the door.