Police say the shooting was not random and the victim and suspect knew each other.
WESTLAND, MI — A suspect was arrested early Friday after a Salvation Army bell ringer was shot and killed Thursday evening at a Kroger store on Ford Road, police said. Officers found the victim inside the store with multiple gunshot wounds and he died at the scene.
Authorities said the killing happened about 6:10 p.m. Thursday at the Kroger at 36430 Ford Road, near Central City Parkway. Westland police said investigators quickly identified a suspect who fled and took that person into custody Friday morning. The department said the attack does not appear to be random. The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office is expected to review evidence as detectives continue interviews and collect video from the area. The incident halted holiday shopping at the busy supermarket and drew swift reaction from city officials, the Salvation Army and Kroger, all pledging cooperation with police as the case moves toward potential charges.
The victim was identified by family as 47-year-old Alvin Echols, who had been collecting donations outside the entrance before running inside after shots were fired, relatives said. Police said the suspect left immediately after the shooting; investigators later located and arrested that person. The department has not released a name, citing the pending charging process, but Westland Mayor Kevin Coleman said the suspect is a teenager. “Initial investigation indicates this was not a random occurrence and that the victim and suspect knew each other,” police said in a statement. Store employees called 911 as shoppers sheltered and officers rendered aid, but Echols was pronounced dead inside the building.
In a written statement, Kroger said it was “deeply saddened” by the violence at its Westland location and that it is cooperating with investigators. The Salvation Army’s Great Lakes Division said it is “profoundly heartbroken,” adding that the organization is assisting police and supporting the family. Police said they are reviewing store and nearby security video, canvassing for additional witnesses and awaiting preliminary findings from the Wayne County Medical Examiner. Officials have not publicly discussed a motive, the number of shots fired beyond noting multiple wounds, or the precise sequence leading up to the confrontation. The suspect’s identity will be released after formal charges and arraignment, according to police.
Thursday’s killing came during one of the Salvation Army’s busiest fundraising weeks of the year, when bell ringers are stationed outside major retailers across Metro Detroit. Westland police headquarters sits within blocks of the store along Ford Road, a commercial corridor that draws heavy evening traffic during the holidays. While homicides at big-box or grocery locations are rare, Metro Detroit departments frequently emphasize rapid evidence collection from extensive camera networks in large shopping centers. In Westland, officers said those systems, along with witness accounts, were central to Friday’s arrest. The city has dealt with seasonal retail theft surges in prior years, but officials said this case is being treated as a targeted violent offense unrelated to shoplifting trends.
Detectives are preparing investigative reports for prosecutors, who will decide charges under Michigan law. If charges are authorized, the suspect would be arraigned in district court, where a judge would set bond conditions and a probable cause conference date. Police said they will release the suspect’s name and basic case information after the filing of charges and arraignment documents. The Medical Examiner’s office will issue an official cause and manner of death. Westland police said additional details, including any recovered firearm information and potential prior contacts between the parties, could be discussed at a briefing after charging decisions are made.
Family members gathered near the store Friday, describing Echols as outgoing and devoted to their church. “I’m very happy they have a suspect because I can’t eat, I can’t sleep,” his mother, Mary Echols, said. His sister, Amanda Stamper, said he loved greeting people while ringing the bell and dressed as Santa for children during the holidays. Mayor Coleman called the shooting “devastating,” adding that the city is supporting investigators and the family. Shoppers who were inside Thursday evening recalled a rush of employees ushering people away from the front end of the store as patrol cars converged on the parking lot.
By Friday afternoon, police said detectives were still interviewing witnesses and cataloging video from inside and outside the Kroger, along with businesses along Ford Road. The investigation remains active, with charging decisions expected after the prosecutor’s review. Further updates are anticipated once an arraignment is scheduled.
Author note: Last updated December 20, 2025.