Suspected O'Reilly murder accomplice charged with murder
DETROIT (WJBK) - After two weeks of her photo posted publicly, the woman accused of participating in the murder of 69-year-old Vietnam veteran and O'Reilly Auto Parts Store Manager James Haller Jr. faced a judge just days after turning herself in to Detroit police.
"While the court can appreciate that she did turned herself in, due to the nature of the charges, facts presented to this court, and the risk to public safety she will be remanded at this time to the Wayne County Jail," the judge said.
Eboni McEwen-Ross, 28, was arraigned on felony murder and two counts of armed robbery after prosecutors say she is one of the two women who robbed the store on Schaefer Road on Nov. 1.
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"This is a sad case, sad on all ends," said her defense lawyer Marlon Evans.
Police say it was 23-year-old Shawnta Anderson who shot and killed Haller. She's charged with murder, armed robbery and felony firearm. Meanwhile, 39-year-old Leviticus Butler is also charged for being an accessory after the fact. McEwen-Ross's attorney says his client wasn't dodging police, but planning to turn herself in.
"She wasn't hiding," he said.
Haller's son, Christopher Pasham, is still shaken. McEwen-Ross chose to surrender on the day his father was laid to rest.
"You were being looked for and the fact that they couldn't find you or locate you, and they had your information - you're hiding," he said.
Police are still searching for a fourth person - the getaway driver.
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"Whether you walk yourself in there, they drag you in there, somebody else drags you in there, somebody throws you in there - it doesn't matter, as long as you're caught. That's all that matters to me," Pasha said.
He fought back swirling emotions of anger and sadness.
"There's no closure for me," he said.
As McEwen-Ross, along with Anderson and Butler, are due back in court within the next two weeks, Pasha is hoping that driver is caught as well. He's planning to be there to face them all and vows never to forgive.
"Forgiveness has to be earned and there's nothing they can do to earn that. They have no understanding of what they took from my family," he said.