A dramatic turn unfolded today in the hearing for the woman charged in the death of her boss at a McDonald’s restaurant in Eastpointe, Michigan — the victim’s daughter was taken into custody when she attempted to bring knives into the courtroom moments after a chilling video of her mother’s murder was shown.
The case centres on 39-year-old Jennifer Harris, a long-time manager at the McDonald’s on 9 Mile Road, who was fatally stabbed on July 10 by her employee, Afeni Badu Muhammad, 26. Harris, a mother of six, had worked at the store for more than a decade.
Prosecutors revealed that Muhammad had been sent home early following a work-argument with Harris. She later returned wearing a mask and walked into the restaurant through a back employee entrance. Staff and investigators say she pulled a knife and stabbed Harris at least 13 times — more than 15 times according to some reports.
On Friday, during the preliminary hearing in Macomb County, the court played horrifying surveillance footage showing the attack. As the family of the victim watched, emotions surged. One relative left the courtroom, retrieved two knives from a vehicle, and attempted to re-enter. Deputies intercepted the individual at the courthouse entrance, handcuffed her and placed her into custody.
In the chaos that followed, the judge ordered the rest of Harris’s family out of the courthouse. They were barred from observing the remainder of the hearing in order to maintain courtroom security and decorum.
Muhammad remains held in jail on a $25 million bond and faces charges of first-degree premeditated murder and carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent. The prosecutor’s office said the evidence was sufficient to bind the case over to circuit court.
For Harris’s six children, the scene inside the courtroom must have been unbearable. A balloon release held after the July incident showed just how deeply her loss is felt in the community. Friends, co-workers and neighbours paid tribute to a manager who they say was dedicated, professional, and loved by her team.
Today’s disruption in the hearing highlights the raw pain still coursing through the victim’s family. While they seek closure and justice for Harris, the unexpected attempt to bring weapons into the courtroom signals the volatile emotions still at play. The case will continue in circuit court, and the outcome will determine how both the legal system and the community respond to such a violent tragedy.
If you like, I can pull out full transcripts from the hearing and the exact wording from the video shown in court.
