Police arrested a suspect Friday in the fatal shooting of a Salvation Army bell ringer at a Kroger on Ford Road, one day after the man was gunned down near the store entrance around 6 p.m., authorities said.
Investigators said the shooting unfolded during a busy shopping hour on Dec. 18, prompting a large police response and rattling holiday shoppers. The Westland Police Department confirmed a suspect was taken into custody within 24 hours. Family members identified the victim as Alvin Echols, 47, a familiar face outside the grocery store collecting donations for the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign. Officials have not released the suspect’s name or a possible motive. Detectives are reviewing store video, witness statements and ballistic evidence as they prepare a case for prosecutors.
Police said officers were dispatched just after 6 p.m. to the Kroger at 36430 Ford Road and found a man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Witnesses told investigators the victim collapsed near the entrance and made it inside the vestibule area as bystanders called 911. Officers and medics attempted lifesaving measures, but the man was pronounced dead a short time later. Shoppers were escorted out as the store locked down. Detectives conferred with nearby agencies and canvassed the parking lot and neighboring businesses for camera footage that might show the shooter’s approach and escape.
Westland officials said the killing appeared targeted but declined to discuss details, citing the active investigation. Community members stopped by Friday morning to leave flowers and notes near the storefront. Echols’ sister, Amanda Stamper, said her brother enjoyed greeting customers and ringing the bell each season. “He loved people. He loved the holidays,” Stamper said, adding that the family wants answers about what led to the shooting. The Salvation Army’s Great Lakes Division called the loss devastating and thanked first responders and witnesses who remained on scene to give statements.
The Kroger location sits along a high-traffic stretch of Ford Road near Central City Parkway, a corridor lined with big-box stores and restaurants. Regulars said bell ringers often set up at the doors through December. Several shoppers described a chaotic scene after shots were fired, with carts left in aisles and parents rushing children toward exits as employees ushered people away from the entry. By nightfall, police had draped crime-scene tape across the front walkway and placed evidence markers near the curb.
Authorities did not immediately confirm how many rounds were fired, what caliber weapon was used, or whether the victim and suspect knew each other. Detectives said they are comparing statements and reviewing multiple camera angles, including exterior pole cameras and the store’s vestibule video. Officials also declined to discuss where the suspect was arrested or what led investigators to that person, noting that interviews and forensic work are still underway. No additional suspects were being sought as of Friday afternoon.
Records show Westland police routinely coordinate with the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office on homicide reviews within days of an arrest. In similar cases, detectives submit an initial packet that includes surveillance stills, shell casing analyses, 911 timing and autopsy preliminaries. A charging decision typically follows after the medical examiner confirms cause and manner of death and after officers complete key witness interviews. Police said they would release the suspect’s identity and booking details once charges are authorized.
Shoppers who returned to the plaza Friday expressed shock that a familiar holiday presence was killed outside a grocery store. “It’s unbelievable,” said Robert Neal, who lives nearby and stops at the location several times a week. “You see the kettle, you hear the bell — you don’t expect violence.” A Kroger spokesperson said the company is cooperating with investigators and providing video and incident logs from the store. The Salvation Army said it is supporting Echols’ family and the coworkers and volunteers who knew him.
The investigation now moves to formal charging and court scheduling. Westland police said additional updates would follow after the prosecutor reviews the case file. If charges are filed, the suspect would be arraigned in a Wayne County district court, where a judge would consider bond and set probable-cause and preliminary examination dates. Police said they are also collecting community-submitted video from the parking lot and Ford Road corridor to complete the timeline.
By Friday evening, a small memorial of red ribbons and candles sat near the entrance, and store employees resumed limited operations while officers wrapped up scene processing. The next public milestone is a charging announcement from prosecutors, expected after the medical examiner’s initial findings are delivered.
Author note: Last updated December 20, 2025.