Crime
23-Year-Old Abel Vazquez Identified as Victim in Fatal Southgate Kroger Stabbing
SOUTHGATE, MI — Authorities have identified the victim killed in Tuesday’s fatal stabbing inside a Southgate Kroger as 23-year-old Abel Vazquez of Southgate.
The violent incident occurred on the afternoon of Tuesday, October 7, inside the Kroger Marketplace located near Fort Street and Pennsylvania Road.
Police say a fight between two men — reportedly over a woman — escalated into a deadly assault that claimed the life of the 23-year-old.
According to Southgate Police, officers responded to the grocery store shortly after 3 p.m. following multiple 911 calls reporting a physical altercation in progress. When officers arrived, they found Vazquez suffering from multiple stab wounds.
Emergency responders rendered medical aid at the scene before transporting him to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.
Investigators determined that the suspect, a 33-year-old Kroger employee, and the victim had arranged to meet at the store.
During their confrontation, the dispute turned violent, and the employee allegedly stabbed Vazquez. The suspect was taken into custody without further incident.
Police emphasized that the victim was not employed by Kroger, and the incident is being treated as isolated, posing no ongoing threat to the public.
Detective Sergeant Michael Murphy of the Southgate Police Department stated that the altercation stemmed from personal issues involving a woman.
“I’m not sure how well they knew each other directly, but it did stem over another female that brought the two together,” Sgt. Murphy said. “They had prior communication leading up to this event. It’s just a tragic situation that could have been avoided — one that will devastate multiple families.”
Witnesses at the scene provided additional context.
Anthony DeGregorio, whose sister works at the store, told Channel2 NOW that the suspect was reportedly a store manager accused of inappropriate conduct toward female employees.
“It was two younger guys — one being an employee and the other the boyfriend of an employee,” DeGregorio said. “The boyfriend came to confront the employee for being weird and harassing his girlfriend. It broke out into a fight that ended with the employee pulling a knife. My sister and other women had reported him for harassment, but nothing was ever done — and now this has happened.”
Authorities are still reviewing store surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses as part of their investigation.
The suspect remains in custody and is expected to be arraigned soon.
Kroger officials confirmed that the store will reopen on Thursday, October 9, at 8 a.m., following cleanup and security assessments.
The investigation remains active under the Southgate Police Department in coordination with the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office.
Crime
Angela Johnson and Her Son DeAngelo Johnson Killed After Shooting Inside Home in Chicago, Mother’s Boyfriend in Custody
CHICAGO — A 47-year-old mother and her 27-year-old son were fatally shot inside a residence in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood on the West Side late Thursday night, September 24, 2026, according to Chicago police.
The victims were identified as Angela Johnson, 47, and DeAngelo Johnson, 27. Police said a suspect, identified as Angela Johnson’s boyfriend, was taken into custody following the shooting.
The deadly shooting happened in the 800 block of North Parkside Avenue at approximately 10:43 p.m. Witnesses reported hearing gunshots coming from the basement of the residence and called 911.
When Chicago police officers arrived, they found the two victims suffering from gunshot wounds.
Angela Johnson was found in the basement with a gunshot wound to her chest. Police-radio traffic indicated she had been shot on the right side of her chest.
DeAngelo Johnson was found on the first floor with multiple gunshot wounds. Radio traffic indicated that he had suffered two gunshot wounds to his back.
Both victims were initially unresponsive and in critical condition. Emergency personnel performed CPR on DeAngelo Johnson before both victims were transported to Mount Sinai Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
According to police-radio traffic, one victim was pronounced dead at approximately 11:18 p.m., while the male victim was pronounced dead around 11:21 p.m.
Investigators found extensive evidence inside the residence, including approximately 23 shell casings in a basement bedroom. Additional shell casings were reportedly recovered in other areas of the basement, including the stairway, main room and bedroom.
Officers initially recovered a firearm and shell casings from the basement bedroom. Police later located a second firearm inside the home, bringing the total number of recovered firearms to two.
Authorities have not publicly stated who owned the firearms or confirmed which weapon, if either, was used in the fatal shooting.
Police also reported that DeAngelo Johnson was wearing an empty holster when officers found him on the first floor. That discovery prompted an officer-safety alert as officers searched the residence for the missing firearm.
Chicago police said the shooting appeared to be domestic-related and identified the alleged offender as the mother’s boyfriend.
Radio traffic indicated that a person had been detained by approximately 11:26 p.m. The official police report later confirmed that the known offender was taken into custody.
Two witnesses were reportedly available to identify the alleged offender, and officers conducted a show-up identification procedure near the scene.
Police have not released additional information about potential charges against the suspect.
The investigation into the Chicago Austin neighborhood double shooting remains ongoing. Detectives are continuing to examine the circumstances that led to the shooting, the relationship between the people involved and the role of the two recovered firearms.
The deaths of Angela Johnson and DeAngelo Johnson are being investigated as a double homicide.