Westland Kroger shooting details 'sensitive information,' police say

Natalie Davies and Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press

Fri, December 19, 2025 at 3:05 PM UTC

2 min read

A shooting Thursday evening that has been widely reported as fatal at a Kroger grocery store in Westland is under investigation, with authorities releasing few details.

Police confirmed to the Free Press early Friday that someone — who news reports have identified as a bell ringer for the Salvation Army — was shot at about 6:20 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18 at the Kroger on Ford near Central City.

Authorities declined to confirm to the Free Press, however, whether the shooting was fatal or what the motive might be, calling any additional details "sensitive information." Police also would not discuss whether they had identified a suspect.

Westland Council President Mike McDermott urged city residents in a statement posted to social media Thursday night to "be safe" and "avoid the Kroger location" so police could "do their job and investigate the scene."

The store was open Friday.

McDermott also promised "more details will be shared when they are known."

In October, a man was stabbed and killed at the Southgate Kroger in what the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office ruled self-defense. Authorities said the scuffle was over a woman, with the victim and the defendant having never met in person.

Both Kroger and the Salvation Army released statements to the news media that expressed sympathy for the victim, but offered few details, and said they were cooperating with the active police investigation.

The supermarket chain said it was "deeply saddened by the incident," but "to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation," it wasn't releasing details, and instead directed questions to Westland police.

Salvation Army Red Kettles — a way to give loose change or a few dollars to the less fortunate at Christmas time — have become places where mystery donors have, on rare occasions, deposited valuable coins.

Red Kettle giving, inspired by charitable pots in England, dates to the late 1800s.

More: How much is one ring worth after gold prices soared in 2025?

For years, a donor slipped a gold Krugerrand into a kettle in St. Clair Shores. This week, someone dropped one worth an estimated $4,300 into a kettle on Ford Road in Canton Township.

The Salvation Army, in its statement, called the shooting a "tragic incident," and added the charitable organization sought to "lift up in prayer all who are affected, especially the individual involved, their loved ones and the Westland community."

Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Westland Kroger shooting details 'sensitive information,' police say

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