A Michigan man is facing multiple felony charges after authorities say he opened fire inside a car dealership, killing the owner and a customer during a dispute over a used vehicle he bought for $3,000.
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According to information released by Shelby Township police, 46-year-old Terrance Jermaine Sandles went to Star Auto Sales on November 7 and confronted owner Marvan Batoo over a 2007 GMC Hummer he had purchased about five weeks earlier. Investigators said Sandles had returned to the business just two weeks after the purchase, claiming the vehicle was a “lemon.” The term generally refers to a new car with serious issues that significantly impact its use or safety.
Police said that shortly after entering the dealership, Sandles pulled out a firearm and shot Batoo as well as customer Ghaith Baban, who was meeting with the owner at the time. Both victims were struck at close range. Authorities reported that after the shooting, Sandles took cash from the business before fleeing.
Detectives tracked him by identifying his vehicle through license plate–reading cameras, which led officers to a nearby motel. Police said Sandles was found in a room with a handgun in the bed where he was sitting and another firearm close by. The cash taken from the dealership was also allegedly recovered in the room.
Sandles was taken into custody without incident. Prosecutors later charged him with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of armed robbery. Additional charges include firearm violations, possession of ammunition by a prohibited person, carrying a concealed weapon and a drug-related offense tied to the discovery of controlled substances.
He remains in custody as the investigation continues.
Source/Images vis Macomb County Prosecutor, Google Maps
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