UPDATE:
Prosecutor: Security guard told Flint dollar store customer to wear mask before being fatally shot
George Hunter and Jennifer Chambers, The Detroit NewsPublished 2:24 p.m. ET May 4, 2020 | Updated 3:21 p.m. ET May 4, 2020Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said Monday he charged Ramonyea Bishop, 23, Larry Teague, 44, and Sharmel Teague, 45, with first-degree murder in connection with Friday's fatal shooting of 43-year-old Calvin Munerlyn at the Family Dollar store at 877 E. Fifth Ave. in Flint.[...]
"From all indications, Mr. Munerlyn was simply doing his job in upholding the governor's executive order related to the COVID-19 pandemic for the safety of store employees and customers," Leyton said.
"Sharmel Teague and Munerlyn ... got into a verbal altercation after Munerlyn told Teague's daughter that she needed to wear a face mask while inside the store," Leyton said.
"Teague's daughter left the store, but Teague began yelling at Munerlyn, who then told her to leave the store and instructed a cashier not to serve her," the prosecutor said.
"There is surveillance video that confirms the altercation," Leyton said.
The video shows Sharmel Teague leave the store in a red GMC Envoy, and return about 20 minutes later with two men, Larry Teague — her husband — and Bishop, her son.
"Witnesses on the scene said they saw two black males enter the store wearing dark clothing," Leyton said. "One of them started yelling at Mr. Munerlyn about disrespecting his wife. The other black male walks up and shoots Mr. Munerlyn ... witnesses identified Bishop as the shooter."
PREVIOUS VERSION OF THE DIARY:
I didn’t see this story about Calvin Munerlyn covered here so I thought I would post this. The suspect is still at large.
This is what is being reported on social media.
Police probe shooting of Flint security guard in confrontation over mask at Family Dollar
Michigan State Police investigators are looking into reports that a Flint dollar store security guard was fatally shot Friday after an argument with a customer who refused to wear a mask in the store.
The 43-year-old guard was shot in the head at about 2:15 p.m. Friday at the Family Dollar store at 877 Fifth Ave. He later died in an area hospital. Police are not yet releasing the name of the guard.
Michigan State Police 1st Lt. David Kaiser said Sunday that detectives are investigating a flood of reports on social media from people who say the violence sparked when the guard told a customer he had to wear a mask, a policy set forth by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to help curb the spread of the coronavirus.
“We’re seeing a lot of these reports on social media, so we're investigating them," Kaiser said. "We'll talk to all the potential witnesses."
Masks Become a Flash Point in the Virus Culture Wars
As people resume going out in public in the middle of a pandemic, to wear or not to wear a face mask has become a personal statement and sometimes a political one.
In Flint, Mich., a security guard at a Family Dollar store was fatally shot on Friday afternoon after an altercation that the guard’s wife told The New York Times had occurred over a customer refusing to wear a face covering, which is required in Michigan in any enclosed public space.
Police officials declined to comment on details of the case, but are still looking for the suspect, who fled. A vigil was planned for Sunday night, and a news conference for Monday.
Family mourns loss of security guard they say was shot and killed at Family Dollar
As this family is stricken with the loss of their husband, father and friend, they ask the community to carry on Calvin's legacy.
"Remember him as an amazing, outgoing person," Cabine stated.
"I'm going to try and live for him," Demonte stated.[...]
The family is planning on holding a vigil Sunday night in their vehicles at Family Dollar in honor of Calvin.
They plan to launch balloons in his memory.
The vigil starts at 8:30 p.m. and is open to the public.
Friends of the family have also created a GoFundMe page to help the family pay for funeral expenses.
The Genesee County Prosecutors Office plans to hold a press conference on Monday with more information on the shooting.
A GoFundMe page has been started for Munerlyn, who went by the nickname Duper.
“Duper was a hard working, father and husband who lost his life while doing his job securing the place of business and asking all customers to wear a mask for our own safety as well as others,” reads an update on the GoFundMe page. “He leaves behind 8 amazing kids, a super loving wife, & his wonderful mother.”