Shots Fired Inside Westland Mall: Police Say Dispute in Perfume Store Escalated, Suspects Fled

A shooting inside Westland Shopping Center on July 9, 2020, brought armed violence into one of the city's most visible commercial properties, raising questions about mall security that remain relevant as the property continues to struggle with vacancy and seeks a path forward.

An argument among two or three men inside the European Perfumes store at Westland Shopping Center, located at 35000 W. Warren, escalated to gunfire just after 5:30 p.m. A single employee at the perfume store told police about the argument that led to the shooting. Gregory Travis Jones allegedly fired into the air first, then fired toward the fleeing acquaintances — two shots in all. All men involved fled the mall on foot. The confrontation stemmed from prior interactions between the parties involved, according to Westland police, who emphasized the incident was not an active shooter situation but an isolated confrontation between people who knew each other.

Police responded by blocking mall entrances and confirming there was no active shooter threat. They released surveillance video of the confrontation to help identify others involved. Westland police arrested Jones, 24, of Detroit, on July 13, 2020, four days after the shooting.

The enumerated charges against Jones included two counts of assault with intent to murder, two counts of assault with intent to do great bodily harm, discharging a firearm in a building, carrying a concealed weapon, and seven counts of felony firearm. Jones was given a one-million-dollar cash bond; if posted, he would be required to wear a GPS tether and remain at home. A probable cause conference was scheduled for July 23, 2020, at 8:15 a.m. before Judge Mark McConnell at 18th District Court. Police were still working in July 2020 to identify other individuals present during the incident and were seeking information from the public.

Westland Shopping Center's rules of conduct, posted on the mall's current website, explicitly state that weapons of any type are not permitted on mall property and that patrons must not engage in fighting, harassment, or disruptive conduct. The mall's website describes security infrastructure that includes on-site security personnel, surveillance monitoring, and a Security Office located next to the restrooms near JCPenney that can be reached at (734) 425-5001. Security guards patrol stores, hallways, and entrances and exits to monitor for suspicious activity, write incident reports, assist customers, provide safety escorts in parking areas, and actively monitor camera footage, according to security protocols described for the property. The mall advises shoppers to lock cars and check for loitering before approaching, keep keys in hand, report suspicious activity immediately to mall security, and never leave children unattended. The July 9 shooting unfolded despite the weapons prohibition.

Westland Shopping Center is owned by Namdar Realty Group, a private, family-owned real estate investment trust based in Great Neck, New York, which acquired the mall in late 2016 through a joint venture with Mason Asset Management. Namdar owns and operates 378 properties across 37 states, including 174 retail properties nationwide. The mall is described as being at a critical juncture in its lifecycle, with many stores permanently shuttered behind locked metal gates.

Public records from 2020 contain no statements from mall management about response protocols or communications with tenants and employees during and after the shooting, and neither Namdar Realty Group nor mall management has publicly documented what security staffing, technology, or training changes followed the incident.