In Detroit, 50 cents can be the value of a young man's life

By Emilia Flin/Tell Us Detroit

DETROIT (Tell Us Det) - 1:00 a.m., Saturday. Michael Haynes, 24, walked into a gas station located in the 10800 block of Fenkell Avenue, where an argument ensued with station attendant Ibrahim Kassim Saleh, 23, over the cost of a box of condoms. What has now increasingly become a common occurrence in situations such as this in the city, this argument escalates into the expected result.. the death of Haynes and a possible life sentence for Saleh.

As another weekend concluded in murder and mayhem, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy has charged gas station attendant Ibrahim Kassim Saleh, 23, of Dearborn, with the homicide of Michael A. Haynes, 24, of Detroit.

Over the weekend Haynes went to a gas station located in the 10800 block of Fenkell to purchase condoms. Saleh was working inside a bullet-proof glass enclosed room when he and Haynes had a verbal argument. After the argument Haynes pushed over several shelves of merchandise. It is alleged that Saleh exited the enclosed room armed with a handgun and shot Haynes in the back as he was leaving the station. Haynes later died from the wound he sustained.

Saleh has been charged with First Degree Murder (Life in Prison without Parole) and Felony Firearm (Two Years Mandatory Consecutive).

“The evidence in this case, by all accounts, illustrates how a seemingly random argument can escalate into needless loss of life. We cannot, in any way, tolerate this alleged behavior - especially in a business setting,” said Prosecutor Worthy.

Saleh was arraigned Tuesday afternoon in 36th District Court downtown Detroit.