DETROIT — Protests outside of the BP gas station at Fenkell and Meyers in Detroit have been almost a daily occurrence since a shooting that resulted in the death of one young man, Michael Haynes II, and first-degree murder and illegal weapons possession charges against another, former employee Ibrahim Saleh, who was recently arraigned. 

The BP gas station at Fenkell and Meyers in Detroit where the shooting took place, resulting in neighborhood protests. The owner is hoping to move forward in the best interests of serving the community.

But this past Sunday was quiet, however, giving hope to the station’s owner, known to customers as ‘Uncle Abe,’ as well as supporters from the community including nearby Hope Presbyterian Church that the neighborhood can move on together following the tragedy. 

The owner, who has had the station since February 1994, said in far-less-than-perfect English that he is broken up inside and greatly saddened about last month’s shooting. 

He said that dozens of supporters have pledged to stand with him and his business including members of the church and noted the fate of Saleh will be decided in court. 

One former protester who dropped out recently gave the owner a letter describing her decision: “My decision to protest was for getting justice, and to make sure justice is served for Mike, but I don’t understand why I’m protesting to shut your business down which would result in jeopardizing your family,” she wrote. 

“So I choose to forgive you…and the young man for making the decision that day…I as a Christian woman ask you to forgive me for responding out of anger instead of love.

As a single parent raising a 15 year old, I want to teach him the correct things, I wrote this letter to set an example for my son and to the world as to what forgiveness means,” she continued, signing the letter, “Your neighbor, Angie.” 

A meeting was expected to be held at the church in order to speak with community members about the situation on Monday night, including a friend of the owner’s whose English is much better than his, to hopefully foster more understanding. 

The owner said that he has actively donated to scholarship funds to the local middle school in the past and to the church for similar programs, and has said he believed that he had good relations with the community prior to the incident. He hopes to hold further events including a barbeque for area kids and families. The owner added that he hoped to do what’s best for everyone in the community regardless of skin color or ethnicity moving forward and asked for forgiveness and understanding during these difficult times.