Deadly Foot Locker Shooting in Eastpointe: 19-Year-Old Lakylia Taylor Arrested in Connection with Fatal Altercation That Left Two Dead and Two Injured
EASTPOINTE, Mich. — A tragic afternoon in Eastpointe turned deadly on Sunday, May 5, when a verbal dispute outside a Foot Locker retail store erupted into a violent shootout, leaving two men dead and two others injured. Authorities have now confirmed that 19-year-old Lakylia Taylor has been taken into custody in connection with the incident.
According to the Eastpointe Police Department, Taylor voluntarily turned herself in on Monday, accompanied by her legal counsel. She is currently being held at the Macomb County Jail and is facing at least one count of open murder. Police noted that while Taylor may not have been the shooter, her active involvement in the altercation could warrant murder charges under Michigan law, which holds participants in certain violent crimes accountable for resulting deaths.
The shooting occurred just after 3:00 p.m. in the parking lot of the Foot Locker store located near 8 Mile Road and Kelly Road, a typically busy retail area frequented by shoppers and families. The altercation reportedly involved two groups of individuals and rapidly escalated from a heated verbal argument into fatal violence.
According to surveillance footage and eyewitness accounts, the conflict turned physical when one person used a firearm to strike another. That weapon reportedly broke during the assault. Moments later, a woman—allegedly Taylor—retrieved a second firearm from the trunk of a nearby vehicle and opened fire, striking four people.
Two male victims were pronounced dead at the scene. A third victim, who was shot in the face, miraculously survived and was reported to be conscious and alert after receiving emergency medical treatment. The fourth victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries and remains in stable condition.
Authorities are working diligently to identify the third party who fled the scene with the firearm used in the shooting. Investigators have not yet recovered the weapon.
Detective Lieutenant Alexander Holish of the Eastpointe Police Department expressed concern about the proximity of the violence to innocent bystanders inside the store. “We’re very lucky that bullets didn’t enter the store,” Holish said. “This could have been an even greater tragedy with more innocent lives lost.”
As of Tuesday morning, the names of the deceased have not been made public, pending formal notification of next of kin.
The investigation remains active and ongoing, with police continuing to review surveillance footage, interview witnesses, and follow up on leads.
The Eastpointe Police Department is asking anyone with information regarding the shooting or the identity of the third suspect to come forward. Tips can be submitted anonymously through local crime stoppers or by calling the department directly.
This tragic incident has left the Eastpointe community shaken, as residents and city officials grapple with the loss of life and ongoing concerns about gun violence in public spaces.