On the evening of March 17, 2026, Erica Marie Sanders, a 38-year-old mother, was shot and killed in the kitchen of her home in Center Line, Michigan. The incident occurred at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Sterling Street near Van Dyke. Authorities allege that her boyfriend, 39-year-old Zachary Fuqua, shot her in the back of the head during an argument.
Tragically, three of her four children, ranging in age from 5 to 17, were present in the home at the time of the shooting.
First responders arrived at the scene and attempted life-saving measures, but Sanders was pronounced dead in her kitchen. Following the shooting, Fuqua reportedly fled the residence on foot. A manhunt ensued, and with the assistance of officers from the nearby city of Warren, he was located and apprehended about a mile away.
Zachary Fuqua was taken into custody and has since been formally charged in connection with Sanders's death. The charges against him include second-degree murder, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, possession of ammunition by a prohibited person, and three counts of felony firearm. According to prosecutors, Fuqua has a prior conviction for carrying a concealed weapon and was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
During his arraignment, prosecutors highlighted the callousness of the act, stating that after shooting Sanders, Fuqua allegedly gave her children candy before leaving the house. Social media posts from Fuqua in the days leading up to the incident have come under scrutiny, with one post from March 14 reading, "going out with a bang," which some now see as a warning sign. A GoFundMe campaign has been established by Sanders's family to help with funeral expenses and to provide support for her four children, who are now left without their mother. Fuqua was denied bond and remains in custody, with a probable cause conference scheduled for April 1.
