CLINTON
TOWNSHIP—Emil Salem, 50, the owner of Bernie’s Party Store in Clinton Township was
fatally gunned down yesterday after a suspect entered the business around 11
p.m. waving a gun.

The incident was
caught on video. The suspect was wearing a black hoodie, black pants and white
handkerchief on his face. Police say the suspect is 5 feet, 10 inches or 6 feet
tall. 

The suspect went
to the back office, where Salem’s 16-year-old son was inside. The office was
locked and Salem’s son immediately hit the panic alarm. According to Clinton
Township Police Capt. Richard Maierle, Salem’s son did not witness the slaying
of the store owner. In the video Salem is seen pulling out a gun. Maierle is
not certain who fired first.

Salem
fired a shot that hit the suspect, who was struck at least once or more in the
upper body. The suspect fired back at Salem with a bullet going through a
display case and hitting the store owner in the head.

According
to Maierle the suspect did not take anything from the store. Police say the
suspect fled the store on foot and went around a corner, and may have got into
a car behind the building. The suspect left a blood trail as he fled.

The shooting death
of Salem occurred nearly a year to the day when another Clinton Township party
store owner, Basil Sulaka was shot and killed during a robbery. Sulaka was
killed Mar. 28, 2014. One of the four men charged in the beloved party store’s
murder is still on trial. Sulaka was 51, and owned Clinton Township’s Moon Lite
Party Store.

If
you have any information on this crime call police at 586.493.7840.