26-year-old Eastpointe McDonald’s employee who stabbed a mother of six and manager, after a dispute was charged with 1st degree murder.
Afeni Badu Muhammad had a bond set at $25 million by Judge Kathleen Galen during her arraignment at 38th District Court on Friday afternoon.
Muhammad faces charges for possessing a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent, which is a five-year felony. Due to a prior stabbing incident in Virginia, he is being prosecuted as a habitual offender.
The stabbing took place at the McDonald’s on 9 Mile Road following a dispute between Muhammad and her manager, Jennifer Harris.
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Eastpointe Detective Showers disclosed additional information about the case during the interrogation.
He mentioned that Harris sent Muhammad home for neglecting her responsibilities and warned Harris, I will return.
Muhammad confessed to planning Harris’s murder.
Upon being dismissed, she informed the authorities that she first headed to a park but eventually returned to the McDonald’s, using a knife from her car to stab Harris.
Authorities claim that the knife in question was reportedly a kitchen utensil exceeding 3 inches in length.
Upon her return to McDonald’s, she used a back entrance while wearing a hooded mask over her face to hide her identity, as stated by Showers.
The detective observed that Muhammad attempted to escape but was halted by a customer who was armed.
A not guilty plea was entered on Muhammad’s behalf
The defense lawyer requested a suitable bond, attributing the repeat second offense charge to Muhammad’s involvement in a highly abusive relationship in the past.
Sian Hengeveld, an assistant prosecutor at the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office, urged for Muhammad to be held without bond due to various reasons, one being that he posed a danger to the community.
The victim was fatally stabbed up to 15 times by Muhammad with a knife exceeding 3 inches in length in a public building, as stated by the assistant prosecutor.
Muhammad’s attorney argued for a lower bond, citing her strong ties to the community and lack of prior criminal record.
Judge Galen, however, expressed concerns about the violent nature of the offense and set the bond amount as requested by the prosecution.
The defense plans to file a motion to reconsider the bond at a later date.
Muhammad was remanded in custody pending payment of a $25Million bond or further court proceedings.
The case has attracted significant media attention due to the severity of the charges and Muhammad’s previous legal history.