On a tragic afternoon in Shelby Township, Michigan, the life of 40-year-old Marvan Batoo was cut short in a violent act that also claimed the life of another man. On November 7, 2025, Batoo, the owner of Star Auto Sales, and Ghaith Baban, 48, were fatally shot inside Batoo's dealership on Ryan Road. The grim discovery was made by an employee who returned to the office to find both men with gunshot wounds.
When Shelby Township police arrived at approximately 12:41 p.m., they found the two men deceased and recovered five 9mm shell casings from the scene.
The investigation into the double homicide quickly led authorities to a suspect, Terrance Jermaine Sandles, a 46-year-old man from Houston, Texas. The motive for the killings appeared to be a dispute over a Hummer that Sandles had recently purchased from the dealership. Investigators learned that Sandles was allegedly dissatisfied with the vehicle due to rust and had demanded a refund. When his request was denied, he reportedly threatened the owners. Surveillance footage from the dealership allegedly captured Sandles, wearing black clothing and a mask, entering the business and shooting both victims at point-blank range before calmly walking away.
Utilizing surveillance footage and license plate readers, police were able to track a rental vehicle Sandles was allegedly using. They located him at a hotel in Romulus, where he was arrested the day after the shooting. Inside his hotel room, police reportedly found guns and cash stolen from the dealership. Sandles was subsequently charged with two counts of first-degree, premeditated murder, two counts of armed robbery, and multiple weapons offenses. He is being held without bond in the Macomb County Jail. Authorities also noted that Sandles had a lengthy criminal record in Texas and an outstanding felony warrant, suggesting he may have fled to Michigan to escape charges there. Marvan Batoo was a married father of three young children.
