Daughter of slain Eastpointe McDonald’s manager brings knife to courtroom hearing for suspect who fatally stabbed her manager.
A relative of a woman who was stabbed to death while working her shift at McDonald’s in Eastpointe over the summer was taken into custody on Friday after authorities said the relative tried bringing knives into the courtroom during a hearing for the suspect.
The incident happened during a preliminary hearing for Afeni Badu Muhammad, 26, the woman charged with killing Jennifer Harris, 39, a manager at an Eastpointe, Detroit McDonald’s outlet.
The relative was identified by social media as the eldest daughter of the slain McDonald’s manager, Antonia Griffin, 17.
Eastpointe Court Hearing for slain McDonald’s worker erupts into chaos
WXYZ reported the ‘relative’ being arrested at an Easpointe courthouse while attempting to bringing a knife into the courthouse after moments earlier leaving the court only to attempt to regain entry while in possession of the item. The ‘disruption’ occurred after the daughter viewing ‘surveillance’ video of her mother being allegedly stabbed by the suspect.
Social media speculated the relative may have sought to ‘avenge’ her mother’s stabbing death at the hands of Muhammad, an aspiring rapper and fast food worker.
Stated Antonia Griffin previously on the day of her mother’s slaying, ‘Why take our momma from us? You knew we loved each other.’
The daughter was taken into custody, with prosecutor now considering bringing charges. The family was barred from returning to the courtroom for the rest of the hearing due to the incident.
Muhammad was in court Friday morning for her preliminary hearing in the murder of Harris, a 39-year-old single mother of six and 15 year McDonald’s worker.
Following the Friday morning incident, the court took a break, before the hearing resuming around 1 p.m. in Macomb County.
Fast food worker claims she was bullied by manager
On the day of the slaying, Muhammad and Harris got into an argument with the fast worker in an uploaded social media post complaining in the hours before the slaying that her manager was not giving her respect and ‘cutting her hours.’
Prosecutors allege Muhammad stabbing her manager up to 15 times with a kitchen knife, which was later located in the suspect’s car. The weapon had a blade more than 3 inches long, prosecutors said.
‘Even though Jennifer Harris had collapsed on her back bleeding, the defendant intended to finish the job on the ground,’ Macomb County prosecuting attorney Kumar Palepu said.
An interrogation video played in court showed Muhammad bearing no remorse, telling detectives that the victim had ‘bullied her at work.’
‘I feel better,’ Muhammad said in the interrogation video.
Michigan State Police said they were called to McDonald’s on 9 Mile in July 10 on a report of shots fired and a stabbing on Thursday morning. They arrived and found a customer holding Muhammed at gunpoint and Harris had been stabbed, FOX2 reported.
McDonald’s worker faces first degree premeditated murder
According to MSP, the other employee had been sent home early after getting into an argument with Harris.
A Forensic Center Report found Muhammad competent to stand trial. Officials say the criminal proceedings against her could proceed as a Preliminary Exam is set for Nov. 14.
Muhammad is facing the following charges: First Degree Premeditated Murder, a mandatory life without parole offense and Carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent, a five-year felony.
Muhammad is scheduled to return to court Dec. 2.
