A harrowing incident unfolded at a Michigan car dealership, where a disgruntled customer allegedly took the lives of two men before robbing the establishment. The suspect, identified as 46-year-old Terrance Sandles from Texas, had been residing in a Romulus hotel, apparently in hiding from unrelated charges in his home state.

Macomb County authorities recently announced Sandles’ arrest. During a press conference covered by the Macomb Daily, Shelby Township Police Chief Robert Shelide detailed the tragic events of November 7. Sandles reportedly confronted 40-year-old Marvan Batoo, the owner of Star Auto, regarding a $3,000 purchase of a 2007 GMC Hummer that he was dissatisfied with.

Shelide explained, “He thought it was a lemon.” The confrontation between Sandles and Batoo, which was captured by surveillance cameras, escalated into violence. Sandles allegedly opened fire, fatally shooting Batoo and 48-year-old Ghaith Baban, a customer who happened to be in a meeting with Batoo at the time.

In the aftermath of the shooting, Sandles is accused of robbing the dealership of an unspecified amount of cash before fleeing the scene. The getaway car he used became a crucial lead in the police investigation, aiding in his eventual capture. The entire sequence of events, from Sandles’ confrontation to the fatal shooting and his escape, was recorded by security cameras.

Chief Shelide described the shooting as occurring at “point-blank range,” noting that Sandles seemingly intended to kill Batoo, and Baban was tragically caught in the crossfire. The grim discovery of the two victims was made by a dealership employee returning from an errand.

Shelide said license plate reader cameras throughout the neighborhood near Star Auto were able to read the license plate on the vehicle that Sandles was seen getting into on camera following the alleged shooting. Sandles was linked to the person to whom the vehicle was registered, then ultimately tracked down on Nov. 8 at the hotel where he was staying in Romulus using data from his cellphone.

Inside Sandles’ hotel room were two guns, one of which was believed by police to be the alleged murder weapon. The allegedly stolen cash was also located in the same room. Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido said that authorities also found a “large quantity of cocaine.”

Sandles was arrested and booked into the Macomb County Jail, where he is being held without bond. He was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of armed robbery; one count each of delivery and manufacture of controlled substances, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, possession of ammunition by a prohibited person, and carrying a concealed weapon; and seven felony firearm charges.

He was arraigned in the 41A District Court in Macomb County on Monday. His next court date is scheduled for Nov. 24.