Prosecutors: 3 Accused In Death Stemming From Face Mask Argument

FLINT, MI — Three people have been accused in the slaying of a Flint Family Dollar store security guard who told one of the accused to wear a face mask while at the store due to the coronavirus, prosecutors said.

In a news conference Monday, Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said Ramonyea Travon Bishop, 23, Larry Edward Teague, 44, and Sharmel Lashe Teague, 45, all of Flint, are accused in the Friday shooting of 43-year-old Calvin James Munerlyn.

Bishop is charged with first-degree premeditated murder, felony firearm and carrying a concealed weapon. Larry Teague is charged with first-degree premeditated murder, two counts of felony firearms, felon in possession of a firearm, carrying a concealed weapon and violating the governor's stay-home order. Sharmel Teague is charged with first-degree premeditated murder and felony firearms.

"The death of Calvin Munerlyn is senseless and tragic, and those responsible will be held accountable to the fullest extent under the law," Leyton said. "It is important that the governor's order be respected and adhered to, and for someone to lose their life over it is beyond comprehension."

According to police reports, Sharmel Teague and Munerlyn began arguing about 1:40 p.m. Friday after Munerlyn told Teague about the need to wear a face mask while inside the Family Dollar store, in the 800 block of East Fifth Avenue in Flint. Teague began yelling at Munerlyn and spit at him, prosecutors said. Munerlyn told Teague to leave the store and told a cashier not to serve her, prosecutors said.

Teague left the store and a short time later, two men, later identified as Larry Teague and Bishop, entered the store and confronted Munerlyn, according to prosecutors. Bishop pulled a gun and shot Munerlyn in the back of the head, prosecutors allege.

Prosecutors said Sharmel and Larry Teague are married and that Bishop is Sharmel Teague's son.

Police were called around 2:14 p.m. and found Munerlyn unconscious and bleeding from the head, prosecutors said. He was transported to Hurley Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead a short time later, according to prosecutors.

Sharmel Teague is awaiting arraignment on the charges, authorities said, and Larry Teague and Bishop were being sought by police.

This article originally appeared on the Flint Patch