EASTPOINTE (WWJ) -- A woman accused of murdering her manager at an Eastpointe McDonald’s over the summer has been bound over for trial.
The hearing Afeni Muhammad was interrupted earlier Friday, when a family member of the victim, Jennifer Harris, came in with knives.
Muhammad, 27, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder in connection with the death of Harris, a 39-year-old mother of six, on July 10.
Reports from the courthouse say, as surveillance footage of the deadly stabbing was played during Muhammad's preliminary hearing, the victim's family became distraught and began sobbing loudly, before eventually being escorted out.
That's when it's alleged that one family member went to their vehicle to get two knives. She managed to get one knife into the courthouse before being tackled to the ground by deputies, handcuffed, and taken into custody.
The hearing was put on pause, and the courtroom was closed to the public, but no one was hurt in the incident.
It was not immediately clear what charges the family member may face.
Police said Harris was fatally stabbed after getting into an argument with Muhammad, who was sent home from work but returned with a knife and a plan to kill her boss.
During Friday's hearing, a co-worker testified about the moments after Harris was attacked at the fast food restaurant, on 9 Mile Rd.
"Jenn was laying on the floor in a great big pool of blood, and went running to find towels and that to try to stop some of the bleeding," the co-worker said. "I know she had been cut across both forearms and there was two great big cuts on both sides of her neck."
Muhammad was evaluated for mental fitness, and was found competent.
At the completion of Friday's hearing, a district court judge determined there was enough evidence to bind her over to Circuit Court for trial.
"The allegations in this case are unthinkable, an alleged stabbing in a public place that took the life of an innocent individual. The evidence presented to the court was compelling enough to bind this defendant over for trial. Our office is committed to pursuing justice for the victim and sending a clear message that acts of violence in our community will not be tolerated,” said Macomb County Prosecutor Pete Lucido.
She will be arraigned before Judge James M. Maceroni at the Macomb County Circuit Court on Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 9 a.m.
Muhammad remains held in the Macomb County Jail on a $25 million cash/surety bond.
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