A workplace dispute over the scanning of merchandise at a Burlington Coat Factory in Taylor, Michigan, escalated into a fatal shooting on the morning of Monday, October 16, 2017. The victim was 49-year-old Lorraine Maylynn Faison of Allen Park. The incident, which occurred before the store opened for the day, was the culmination of a disagreement that had begun the previous day between Faison and her co-worker, 49-year-old Sandra Lynette Waller of Taylor.
According to reports, the two
women had been arguing about the correct procedure for scanning items. An assistant manager had intervened the day before, attempting to de-escalate the situation by separating them and eventually sending them both home when the arguing persisted. The animosity between them reignited the following morning when they arrived for their shifts. The verbal altercation quickly turned violent when Waller, a concealed pistol license holder, drew a handgun from her waistband and shot Faison once in the chest.
Taylor police responded to the scene at the 22300 block of Eureka Road to find a chaotic situation with other employees present who had witnessed the shooting. Waller was still at the scene with the gun in her waistband and was taken into custody without incident. Faison was rushed to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Sandra Lynette Waller was charged with first-degree murder and felony firearm. During her court proceedings, it was revealed that the argument stemmed from Waller feeling that Faison was trying to tell her what to do. Waller's defense attorney noted the presence of scissors near Faison's body, suggesting a possible element of self-defense, but this did not prevent the case from moving forward. Waller was bound over for trial.
Ultimately, Sandra Waller pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of second-degree murder, as well as felony firearm. At her sentencing, she expressed remorse to Faison's family, stating, 'I'm so very sorry for what I've done to your mother.' In February 2018, Waller was sentenced to 18 to 40 years in prison for the death of Lorraine Faison.
