Court dismisses manslaughter charge against gas station employee in Detroit shooting

DETROIT (AP) — The Michigan Court of Appeals has dismissed manslaughter charges against a Detroit gas station clerk who locked the door before an angry customer shot at three bystanders, killing one.

Prosecutors argued that the actions of employee Al-Hassan Aiyash made him criminally responsible, but the appeals court said a manslaughter charge did not apply.

It was “not reasonably foreseeable” that the customer, Samuel McCray, would pull out a gun and start shooting himself, the court said on Wednesday.

Aiyash was working behind protective glass at 3 a.m. when McCray’s failed attempt to make a $3.80 electronic purchase in May 2023 turned violent.

The video showed McCray repeatedly cursing and insisting on leaving the gas station with the items. Three more people entered the gas station before Aiyash pressed a button to lock the door, keeping the four inside.

The door was finally unlocked, but before anyone could leave the building, one person was fatally shot and two others were injured.

Prosecutors seeking to keep the case on track cited a landmark 2023 precedent that cleared the way for charges against the parents of Michigan school shooter Ethan Crumbley, who authorities said their son’s actions were predictable.

However, the Court of Appeal stated that the Crumbley case was not a comparable case.

“Holding a defendant criminally liable for the intentional misconduct of a third party remains the exception and not the rule,” the court said in a 3-0 ruling.

McCray is due to stand trial in October for murder and attempted murder.

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