Thread: MI-Detroit area shoppers wary after 3-day crime spree

Detroit area shoppers wary after 3-day crime spree




7:03 p.m. CDT, August 14, 2009


EASTPOINTE, Mich. - The Plum Pit novelty store has been a fixture in Eastpointe for more than four decades, a witness to the growth of commerce along busy Gratiot Avenue northeast of Detroit.

Like other business corridors in the area, Gratiot is lined with an overabundance of strip malls and fast food eateries and has had its share of crime concerns. But some who had only worried about purse snatchings while shopping now fear for their safety following a three-day spree of violent crime that includes an attempted carjacking, a bank robbery and possibly a murder.

"It's just a terrible situation," said Gregg Pioszak, whose parents opened The Plum Pit in 1967. "A woman came in and said she saw the news and was apprehensive about coming in here."

The Plum Pit is next to a sandwich shop parking lot where police believe 21-year-old Matt Landry was carjacked and kidnapped Sunday after stopping at a fast food restaurant. Landy's body was found a few miles away Thursday in a burned out house on Detroit's northeast side.

"Things have changed. I try to watch everybody coming in the door, now," the 53-year-old Pioszak said.

Ihab Masalmani has been charged in an attempted carjacking Tuesday farther north along Gratiot in Roseville. The 17-year-old also is charged in a brazen bank holdup Monday in Harrison Township. Bank surveillance video showed a robber holding a handgun to the back of a customer's head.

Authorities are looking into whether Masalmani has any involvement in Sunday's carjacking in Eastpointe and Landry's death.

Shannon Harp said the crime spree was the topic of conversation with friends during a night out Thursday.

"It makes me think more about going places and being my myself," said Harp, 23, as she shopped Friday near the site of the carjacking attempt in Roseville. "It can happen anywhere. I wouldn't think Roseville, being that this is a busy area and police are everywhere."

The events have reminded 28-year-old Michell Stefani to be more vigilant.

"I make sure everything I have is pretty close to me," said Stefani, who has been following media reports about the Landry case.

Landry's car, a dark green Honda Accord, was found Tuesday night about a mile from the vacant house. The Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office said Friday night that dental records had confirmed the body found inside was his. Investigators have said he was shot at least once.

Masalmani has not been charged in Landry's disappearance. He is being held without bond in the Macomb County Jail pending preliminary examinations later this month in the Roseville case and bank holdup.

Records in Wayne County Juvenile Court show Masalmani has been arrested for marijuana possession, cocaine possession and assault.

Masalmani is a native of Lebanon who came to the U.S. in 2000 and could face deportation, federal Immigration officials said.

He will enter into deportation proceedings after criminal issues are dealt with, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Khaalid Walls said.

Local charges supersede the "Immigration detainer" placed on Masalmani, Walls added.


http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi- ... 6710.story

ship his ass out and let Lebanon worry about how to handle him...........