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.
PHILADELPHIA, PA — Authorities are investigating a double shooting and vehicle crash that unfolded near Broad Street and Packer Avenue in South Philadelphia, creating a large and active crime scene.
According to preliminary reports from the Philadelphia Police Department’s 3rd District, officers responded to multiple 911 calls reporting gunfire in the area.
Upon arrival, officers located a vehicle crash and a male victim suffering from two gunshot wounds to the chest inside one of the vehicles.
The victim was treated at the scene by Philadelphia Fire Department Medic 11 and transported to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, where he remains in extremely critical condition and unresponsive, officials said.
A second male victim was found a short distance away after witnesses reported that he had run into Chickie’s & Pete’s restaurant seeking help following the gunfire.
Officers located the man inside with a gunshot wound to the abdomen.
He was transported by Medic 112 to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where he is listed in critical condition.
Investigators believe the incident began near Broad and Juniper Streets, when the shooter—driving a black Acura SUV—opened fire on the driver of an Audi. The gunfire continued as both vehicles traveled toward Broad and Packer, where the Audi ultimately crashed into a Toyota Corolla.
The driver of the Toyota told police that the suspect continued firing several additional rounds into the Audi before fleeing the scene at high speed.
It remains unclear how the second victim is connected to the incident or at what exact location he was struck by gunfire.
Police have recovered a large number of shell casings, with approximately 10 found near one location and 8 more at another, indicating multiple active crime scenes stretching across several blocks.
Officers have cordoned off the area, and traffic along Broad Street from Oregon Avenue to Packer Avenue remains heavily restricted as the Philadelphia Shooting Investigation Group processes evidence and reviews surveillance footage.
The suspect remains at large, and the motive for the shooting is under active investigation.