Rita Evans.Photo:Rita Evans Facebook
Rita Evans Facebook
A Michigan man was arrested this month for allegedly killing his half-sister over an apparent business dispute about the company the two co-owned, authorities said.
Zachary Holston III, of Farmington Hills, was charged with second-degree murder and felony firearm after he and his sibling got into a confrontation outside their family business on May 26, according to a press release from the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office.
As Holston was getting into his car, three family members approached the passenger door, where a physical altercation erupted over documents that were subsequently found in the vehicle, authorities allege.
The prosecutor’s office claims in the release that at this point, the two drew their firearms and exchanged gunfire.
According to the outlet, citing a company statement, Holston was CEO of Kath Khemicals, and Evans was CFO.
Zachary Holston III.Macomb County Prosecutor Office
Macomb County Prosecutor Office
The soap-making company said in a statement provided to the outlet that it is fully cooperating with law enforcement in the investigation.
“This is not the way for family to settle family business,” Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido said in the release. “Gun violence will never be tolerated in Macomb County. All disputes must be settled civilly between parties in or out of the courtroom, not on the streets.”
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The court entered a not guilty plea on Holston’s behalf, perFox 2 Detroit.Holston’s attorney, Gerald Evelyn, told the outlet his client “took steps to avoid confrontation” and said he wasn’t a flight risk.
Prosecutors, on the other hand, claim that surveillance video they obtained of the incident reveals otherwise.
“The defendant turned it from verbal to something far worse,” Macomb County Assistant Prosecutor Steve Fox said, per Fox 2 Detroit. “And that included pushing away a young woman who was trying to get in between Rita (Evans) and the defendant, drawing his firearm when Rita had no gun at all in her hand, it was in her purse, pointing the gun at Rita as she was getting her own gun in self-defense."
Holston is expected back in court on June 8.
source: people.com
