Gunman shot every customer in Detroit gas station after warning clerk, victim says

A victim in a Saturday triple-shooting at a Detroit gas station says the gunman warned a clerk during a dispute that he would shoot every customer in the store before opening fire.

David Langston says he pleaded “don’t shoot” to the gunman, who, according to police, was angered in a dispute with the clerk over $3. He said his best friend, Gregory Karlos Samuel Fortner-Kelly, also begged the clerk to open the gas station’s locked doors and let them out before being shot.The doors remained locked and the gunman shot the customers inside, Langston told Free Press reporter Jasmin Barmore, who is a friend of the victims.Langston, Fortner-Kelly and another patron were shot. Fortner-Kelly, 37, was killed.

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy confirmed late Tuesday evening that the clerk locked the gas station with the patrons and shooter inside.

Samuel Anthony McCray, 27, of Detroit, is charged in the triple-shooting with first-degree murder, two counts of assault with intent to murder, three counts of felony firearm, and another count of possessing a firearm as a felon.

Worthy said McCray attempted to make a purchase inside the gas station and, when his card was declined, attempted to leave with unpurchased items. The clerk then locked the doors, Worthy said in a news release.

McCray began arguing with the clerk before he opened fire inside the locked gas station, Worthy said. After three people had been shot, the clerk unlocked the door and McCray fled, Worthy said.

McCray was apprehended by police Sunday.

“I want to be very clear,” Worthy said. “The investigation in this case is not finished.”

Efforts to reach owners of the Mobil gas station on West McNichols Road near the Lodge Freeway were unsuccessful.

More: Man accused of killing ex-girlfriend at Southfield hotel fatally shot by police

More: Eastern Michigan University graduate among 8 dead in Texas mall shooting

Police said Monday that the gas station was unlicensed and was shut down by the Detroit Buildings, Safety Engineering, and Environmental Department amid the shooting investigation.

Fortner-Kelly's loved ones are distraught and angry over the death. He was a father of three. His oldest daughter, 14, is about to graduate from middle school.

Before he was killed, Langston said, Fortner-Kelly tried to shield everyone from getting shot.

“That’s just what type of person he was,” said his childhood friend, Tihesha Redmond. “He’s always been a person to be there for everyone around him and take care of them and make sure they’re good.”

Fortner-Kelly was a graduate of Southfield High School and Wayne State University. He had been a substitute teacher, according to Redmond.

He was an outgoing, funny, “comedian-type of person,” Redmond said. “No matter what you’re going through, he’s going to have you laughing.”

“He was truly an earth angel,” added his mother, Marilyn Fortner.

Donations are being accepted for Langston at gofund.me/4fa5d21e

Free Press reporter Jenna Prestininzi contributed to this report.

Andrea Sahouri covers criminal justice for the Detroit Free Press. She can be contacted at 313-264-0442, asahouri@freepress.com or on Twitter @andreamsahouri.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Gunman shot customers in Detroit gas station after warning clerk, victim says