Police say a suspect is in custody after a Salvation Army bell ringer was shot and killed outside a Kroger store along Ford Road around 6 p.m. Thursday, sending holiday shoppers scrambling for cover and drawing a large law enforcement response.
Westland police confirmed the arrest Friday but did not immediately name the suspect or describe a motive. The victim was identified by relatives as Alvin Echols, 47, a familiar face at the store entrance collecting Red Kettle donations. Investigators said the shooting happened quickly near the doors and that officers found Echols with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead a short time later. Detectives are pulling video from the store, the parking lot and nearby businesses as they prepare a case for prosecutors. The Salvation Army’s Great Lakes Division called the killing a devastating loss for volunteers and the community.
Officers were dispatched just after 6 p.m. Thursday to the Kroger at 36430 Ford Road near Central City Parkway after reports of gunfire at the entrance. Shoppers were ushered away from the doors as employees locked down the front area. Witnesses told police they heard several shots, saw the bell ringer collapse and watched bystanders call 911 while others warned customers to stay back. “You see the kettle, you hear the bell — you don’t expect violence,” said Robert Neal, who lives nearby and visits the store several times a week. Police said the suspect fled but was located and arrested within 24 hours.
Investigators said early evidence includes surveillance angles from the vestibule and exterior cameras, 911 timing, shell casings and witness statements from customers and employees. Family members gathered at the store Friday, placing flowers near the walkway and calling for answers. Echols’ sister, Amanda Stamper, described him as someone who “loved people” and looked forward to ringing the bell during the holidays. Officials did not release how many rounds were fired, the weapon caliber or whether a firearm has been recovered. Police said there was no indication of other suspects as of Friday afternoon.
The store sits on a busy retail corridor lined with big-box shops and restaurants, where bell ringers are a common sight in December. Shoppers described a chaotic scene in the minutes after the gunfire, with carts abandoned in aisles and parents pulling children toward the back of the store. By nightfall, yellow tape closed off the entrance and crime scene markers dotted the pavement near the curb. A Kroger spokesperson said the company is cooperating with the investigation and providing requested video and incident logs. The Salvation Army said it is supporting Echols’ family and volunteers affected by the loss.
Police have not publicly discussed the relationship between the victim and the suspect. Some witnesses told officers the two might have known each other, but investigators cautioned that details remain under review. The Wayne County medical examiner will determine cause and manner of death. Detectives said they are comparing footage to reconstruct the suspect’s approach and exit, and they are gathering any parking-lot camera views that may show a vehicle leaving the area around the time of the shooting.
Procedurally, Westland detectives will submit an initial investigative packet to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, a step that typically includes surveillance stills, preliminary autopsy findings, a timeline of 911 calls and sworn witness statements. If charges are authorized, the suspect’s name, booking photo and counts will be released and an arraignment will be scheduled in district court. A judge would then consider bond and set probable-cause and preliminary examination dates. Police said additional updates would follow once the prosecutor makes a charging decision.
Neighbors and regulars at the plaza said they were stunned. “It’s unbelievable, and a bell ringer of all people,” said Evelyn Mason, who stopped by Friday to leave a ribbon near the storefront. Others described Echols as friendly and quick with a greeting. Employees resumed limited operations after scene processing, and customers paused at the door to look at the growing memorial: red ribbons, a small candle and a handwritten note thanking the man many knew only by first name.
By Friday evening, investigators said a suspect was in custody and cooperating to some degree, while officers continued canvassing for additional video along Ford Road. 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.