SOUTHGATE, MI — Police have identified the victim of a fatal stabbing that occurred Tuesday afternoon inside a Southgate Kroger as 23-year-old Abel Vazquez, a resident of the local community. The deadly confrontation unfolded on October 7 inside the Kroger Marketplace located near Fort Street and Pennsylvania Road, shocking shoppers and employees who witnessed the tragic scene.
According to the Southgate Police Department, the incident stemmed from a dispute between two men reportedly over a woman. Officers were dispatched shortly after 3 p.m. following multiple 911 calls about a fight in progress inside the store. When officers arrived, they found Vazquez suffering from multiple stab wounds. He was treated at the scene by emergency personnel and transported to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.
Investigators say the suspect — a 33-year-old Kroger employee — and Vazquez had arranged to meet at the store before the confrontation turned violent. The suspect was taken into custody without further incident. Police emphasized that Vazquez was not employed by Kroger, and there is no ongoing threat to the public. Officials described the attack as an isolated, personal dispute rather than a random act of violence.
Detective Sergeant Michael Murphy of the Southgate Police Department confirmed that the altercation “stemmed over another female that brought the two together.” Murphy added, “They had prior communication leading up to this event. It’s just a tragic situation that could have been avoided — one that will devastate multiple families.”
Witnesses shared harrowing accounts of the altercation. Anthony DeGregorio, whose sister works at the store, told Channel2 NOW that the suspect was allegedly a store manager accused of inappropriate behavior toward female employees. “It was two younger guys — one being an employee and the other the boyfriend of an employee,” DeGregorio said. “The boyfriend came to confront the employee for being weird and harassing his girlfriend. It broke out into a fight that ended with the employee pulling a knife.”
Authorities continue to review store surveillance footage and interview witnesses as part of their investigation. The suspect remains in custody and is expected to be arraigned soon. Kroger officials confirmed that the store will reopen on Thursday, October 9, at 8 a.m., following cleanup and a full security review. The investigation remains ongoing in coordination with the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office.