Father of two killed in Warren after argument near hotel, police say

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Police: Father of two killed after argument near hotel

But police say the suspect, 45-year-old Al Williams, came back and started a fight with Zaner and then allegedly shot him in the chest, killing him.

A father of two is dead after a shooting near a hotel in Warren. 

While that's where the victim lost his life, police believe the events leading up to the gunfire started earlier at another location.

38-year-old Brandon Zaner was working at Bray’z Hamburgers, flipping burgers and making extra money for Christmas.

It was after 10 p.m. on Saturday when he decided to go across the street.

The burger place is located on Dequindre and 9-Mile on the Hazel Park and Warren border.

"So the victim was at the gas station getting a cup of coffee - he and the suspect got involved in some sort of argument and both went their separate ways," said Warren police Lt. John Gajewski.

But police say the suspect, 45-year-old Al Williams, came back and started a fight with Zaner and then allegedly shot him in the chest, killing him.

"All indications are they had no prior contact - never met each other, never knew each other, truly horribly senseless and random," Gajewski said.

Leaving two kids without a father.

"Not that there’s ever any good time to lose a parent but a couple days before Christmas," Gajewski said.

Police arrested Williams about twelve hours later at a nearby hotel. He is locked up and charged with second-degree murder. Investigators are working to determine a motive.

"No robbery, nothing was taken, no allegation, indication, or evidence supporting any sort of theft-type motive, robbery-type motive argument where one person made the very serious and conscious to introduce a weapon and now is obviously facing charges appropriate for his actions," said Gajewski.

A GoFundMe has been set up for Brandon Zaner’s family.