Texas Man Charged In Double Murder at Macomb County Used Car Dealership

Top right: Terrance Sandles,, (bottom) Marvan Battoo

Terrance Jermaine Sandles, 46, of the Houston, Texas area, was arrested Saturday at a Romulus hotel and charged in the double homicide at Star Auto Sales, 47092 Ryan Rd. in Shelby Township, the day before.

He was arraigned Monday in 41A District Court in Sterling Heights and is being held in jail without bond pending his next hearing. He faces two counts of first-degree murder, armed robbery and drug and weapons charges.

Jameson Cook of the Macomb Daily reports that Sandles about three weeks ago complained about rust on a 2007 GMC Hummer he had purchased recently for about $2,500 and wanted his money back. The business refused, and Sandles left the vehicle behind, threatening to kill someone.

Shelby Township Police Chief Robert Shelide said at a press conference Tuesday that video showed Sandles, wearing a mask, returning to the shop last Friday and allegedly robbing it and fatally shooting, at close range, owner Marvan Battoo, 40, of Shelby Township, and Ghaith Baban, 48, of Clinton Township.

Battoo was married with three young children, all 5 and under.  Baban, who worked as a triage specialist for the Dearborn-based Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS), also was married with children.

An employee who had been out buying parts returned to the shop Friday and discovered the two bodies. Five shell casings were found in the office.

The suspect casually walked away on foot Friday after the shooting and got into a getaway vehicle, which was a rental car, Shelide said.

Shelide said investigators tracked down Sandles through the rental car agency and his cell phone.

Police executed a no-knock warrant Saturday shortly before 6 a.m. at the Romulus hotel near Detroit Metro Airport and arrested Sandles.

Shelide said Sandles had a gun in his bed and another on a dresser. He said money from the robbery was recovered.

Sandles was arraigned Monday in 41A District Court in Sterling Heights and is being held in jail without bond pending his next hearing.