(WWJ) An Oakland County couple accused of assault for pointing guns at people outside a restaurant made a brief court appearance Tuesday.
Jillian and Eric Wuestenberg, through their attorneys, waived their right to a preliminary hearing in Rochester Hills District Court. That means the case will now move on to Oakland County Circuit Court.
The Wuestenbergs are charged with felonious assault after viral cell phone video showed Jillian Wuestenberg, 32, pointing a gun at a Black woman, identified as Takelia Hill, as well as her 15-year-old daughter.
Authorities say there was an argument in the parking lot of a Chipotle in Orion Twp. after Jillian Wuestenberg bumped into the teen. The heated exchange escalated into a shouting match in which the words "racist" and "ignorant," along with plenty of profanity, were uttered a number of times.
Eventually the Wuestenbergs try to drive away, when Hill is seen behind the vehicle appearing to punch the rear window.
Hill alleged that Eric Wuestenberg, 42, tried to run her over before his wife got out of the car, pointed a gun and ordered: "Get away!" It's also alleged, although not seen in the video, that Eric Wuestenberg pulled and pointed a handgun as well.
Several people called 911, and the Wuestenbergs were arrested at the scene. No shots were fired and no one was injured.
"So this is America," Hill later wrote on Facebook about the incident. "I've never in my life had a gun pulled out on me...I've never felt so helpless in my life I'm so shaken up."
This incident happened at a time of heightened racial tensions, following the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police, and amid ongoing Black Lives Matter demonstrations across the U.S.
The Wuestenbergs remain free on bond, on the condition that they do not possess any guns. Felonious assault is punishable by up to four years in prison.
