Detroit bans gas stations from locking customers indoors

DETROIT — The city of Detroit is taking action to ban gas stations from locking people inside, a year after a man was shot dead during an argument with another customer.

Police said an employee’s decision to lock the door while he was safely behind protective glass contributed to the shooting.

An ordinance approved Tuesday by the Detroit City Council would make it illegal for employees to push a button to lock a door remotely. It would apply to companies whose workers are protected by glass, The Detroit News reported.

“The purpose of this is to make sure we keep the threat out of convenience stores, gas stations, liquor stores or party stores,” said board member James Tate.

In May 2023, failure to complete a $3.80 electronic purchase led to violence.

The video showed Samuel McCray swearing repeatedly and insisting he would leave a gas station with the items. Three more people entered before employee Al-Hassan Aiyash pressed a button to lock the door, keeping the four inside.

These three people were shot and one of them died. McCray faces murder and attempted murder charges. Aiyash is accused of culpable homicide. His cases are pending.

“If it weren’t for the fact that he locked the door, none of this would have happened,” Judge Kenneth King said of Aiyash.

Aiyash’s attorney said he didn’t know McCray had a gun when he locked the door.