Man Dressed As Santa Charged In Detroit Gas Station Shooting
DETROIT (WWJ) - A 26-year-old man who was dressed as Santa Claus when he allegedly opened fire at a Detroit gas station has been charged with attempted murder.
Marcus Allen Weldon is expected to be arraigned Tuesday afternoon in 36 District Court on two counts of assault with intent to murder, two counts of assault with intent to do great bodily harm, two counts of felonious assault, and felony firearm.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said the charges stem from an incident that occurred around 1:55 a.m. last Sunday at a Speedway gas station in the 700 block of Jefferson, near I-375.
Weldon, while dressed from head to toe in a Santa suit, allegedly engaged in a "heated verbal exchange" with a customer before firing several shots, wounding the man and a passenger in his car, according to police.
"Two of the individuals went to their vehicle; they believe that Santa felt maybe that they were going to get a weapon. He then shot these individuals," Detroit Police Officer Adam Madera told WWJ.
Madera said the argument was apparently over "Santa's girlfriend, Mrs. Claus."
Weldon fled the scene, but was arrested by police officers in the 430 block of Congress shortly after the incident.
The victims, both 29-years-old, were taken to a local hospital for treatment. One of the victims remains in the hospital, while the other has been released.