A Family Dollar store security guard who was killed in Flint, Mich., on Friday was shot after telling a customer her child had to wear a face mask to enter the store, the county prosecutor’s office said Monday.
The argument began when the security guard, Calvin Munerlyn, 43, told Sharmel Lashe Teague, 45, that customers needed to wear face masks in the store, Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said at a news conference Monday. She yelled at him, spit on him and drove off, Leyton said. About 20 minutes later, her car returned to the store, and her husband, Larry Edward Teague, 44, and son, Ramonyea Travon Bishop, 23, stepped out and confronted Munerlyn, according to investigators who spoke to witnesses in the store and reviewed surveillance video. Bishop pulled out a gun and shot Munerlyn, Leyton said.


Leyton said Munerlyn was doing his job, protecting others and enforcing a statewide executive order. In Michigan, people are required to wear face coverings in grocery stores. Stores can refuse service to anyone who is not wearing a mask.
“We simply can’t devolve into an ‘us versus them’ mentality,” he said. “We need to make a commitment as a community to do the things necessary to allow us to stay healthy and turn a page on this crisis together. Not for ourselves but for Calvin Munerlyn, who lost his life needlessly and senselessly.”
The shooting is the latest blow in an ensuing battle between government mandates that encourage or require face masks in public spaces to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus and people who resist the guidelines due to inconvenience or concerns of overreach by officials. The mayor of Stillwater, a small Oklahoma city, and city leaders withdrew a mandate from consideration requiring masks inside reopened stores and restaurants after threats of violence and physical abuse were directed at employees. A day after the Flint shooting, police arrested a man in a city neighboring Flint who allegedly wiped his nose on a Dollar Tree employee’s sleeve after she told him he had to wear a mask to shop, the Detroit Free Press reported.
Michigan State Police are searching for the two men who they believe killed Munerlyn. Police arrested Sharmel Teague. All three are charged with first-degree premeditated murder and gun charges. Larry Teague is additionally charged with violating the mandate requiring people wear face coverings inside grocery stores, which is a misdemeanor, Leyton said.


Michigan State Police are searching for Ramonyea Travon Bishop, 23, and Larry Edward Teague, 44, who are charged with first-degree premeditated murder. Police accused the Flint men of killing Calvin Munerlyn, 43, a Family Dollar store security guard, because he enforced Michigan's face mask policy. (Courtesy Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton)
Michigan State Police are searching for Ramonyea Travon Bishop, 23, and Larry Edward Teague, 44, who are charged with first-degree premeditated murder. Police accused the Flint men of killing Calvin Munerlyn, 43, a Family Dollar store security guard, because he enforced Michigan's face mask policy. (Courtesy Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton)
More than 150 friends and family members of Munerlyn, known by many as “Big Duper,” gathered Sunday at the scene where he was shot, holding candles. At sunset, they released balloons that were blue, black and red — Munerlyn’s favorite colors — into the sky to the clamor of car horns. A GoFundMe for the family has raised more than $195,000, far exceeding its goal.
His wife, Latryna Sims Munerlyn, told The Washington Post he was well known and beloved in the community. “He was so awesome that I’m just honored to have lived my life with him for the past 20 years,” Sims Munerlyn said.
While he was always altruistic for others, his wife said he was most selfless for their six children. “He was with my kids, day in and day out,” she said. “I never woke up without him, I never went to sleep without him. He was just the best father, the best friend.”
County Commissioner Bryant Nolden, who spoke during the Monday news conference, said he often saw Munerlyn training others free of charge at a public gym in Flint. Nolden said he was a mentor to other younger men in the community.
“When I found out what had happened to him, it really broke my heart because I knew what kind of person he was,” Nolden said. “We need to stop the senseless violence in the community. This was totally uncalled for — he didn’t bother a soul. All he wanted to do was take care of his family, and he always had his kids with him.”
When Nickolas Harrison, who looked up to Munerlyn, told his friend of 15 years that he wanted to follow his career path in security Munerlyn gave him one glove of a set that he often wore on the job, Harrison told The Post.
Harrison still has his black Nike glove, a keepsake of a friend who was protecting others when he died, he said.
“My friend Duper was killed for telling a lady she has to put a mask on to come in the store,” he said, “which could save her life or the life of others.”
Family Dollar’s website says store employees may wear face coverings, but there is no requirement listed for customers.
Randy Guiler, a company spokesperson, called the shooting “tragic” in a statement given to The Post.
“We will continue to cooperate fully with local authorities on their investigation,” Guiler wrote. “As always, we are committed to ensuring a safe environment for our associates and customers. Out of respect for the family’s privacy, we are not commenting further at this time.”

Three members of the same family are charged with murder for fatally shooting a Family Dollar security guard, 43, after he told them they couldn't come in without face masks
  • Calvin 'Duper' Munerlyn, 43, was fatally shot in the head while working as a security guard at a Family Dollar store in Flint, Michigan on Friday
  • He was shot following a dispute over wearing a face mask in the store 
  • On Monday, Sharmel Teague, her husband Larry Teague and adult son Ramonyea Bishop were charged with premeditated murder 
  • Sharmel was arrested but Larry and Ramonyea remain at large  
  • She argued with Munerlyn when he said her daughter needed a face mask
  • The two men entered the store and Bishop shot him in the head 
  • Munerlyn leaves behind a wife and their six children 
  • Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s executive order mandates all customers and employees wear face coverings inside retail stores
A woman, along with her adult son and husband, have been charged in the fatal shooting of a Family Dollar security guard, after he refused to let her daughter enter the shop without a face mask amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Calvin Munerlyn, 43, a father of six, was shot dead on Friday around 1.40pm while working at a Family Dollar store located at 877 Fifth Avenue in Flint, Michigan.
Sharmel Teague, her husband Larry Teague, 44, and her son Ramonyea Bishop, 23, have been charged with first-degree premeditated murder and gun charges.
Munerlyn had told Sharmel she had to leave the store because her daughter lacked a mask, leading Teague to argue with the security guard.
A short while later two men later entered the store. Larry Teague yelled at Munerlyn about disrespecting his wife and Bishop shot Munerlyn in the back of the head, according to Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton.
Sharmel Teague has been arrested but Teague and Bishop remain at large. 
Three people have been charged with murder for the fatal shooting of Family Dollar security guard Calvin Munerlyn, 43, (above). He was killed on Friday in Flint, Michigan following an argument over a customer failing to wear a face mask in accordance with state lockdown orders
Three people have been charged with murder for the fatal shooting of Family Dollar security guard Calvin Munerlyn, 43, (above). He was killed on Friday in Flint, Michigan following an argument over a customer failing to wear a face mask in accordance with state lockdown orders 
Sharmel Teague (above), her husband Larry Teague, 44, and her son Ramonyea Bishop, 23, have been charged with first-degree premeditated murder and gun charges in Munerlyn's death. Sharmel got into an argument with Munerlyn after he denied her daughter entry into the store because she did not have a face mask on
Sharmel Teague (above), her husband Larry Teague, 44, and her son Ramonyea Bishop, 23, have been charged with first-degree premeditated murder and gun charges in Munerlyn's death. Sharmel got into an argument with Munerlyn after he denied her daughter entry into the store because she did not have a face mask on
Larry Teague, 44
Ramonyea Bishop, 23
While Sharmel has been arrested, Larry Teague, 44, (left) and Ramonyea Bishop, 23, (right) are still at large
The shooting took place at the Family Dollar located in downtown Flint, Michigan on Friday
The shooting took place at the Family Dollar located in downtown Flint, Michigan on Friday
Security guard shot dead at Family Dollar over face mask dispute

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Larry Teague faces additional charges of violating Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s executive order mandating all customers and employees wear face coverings inside retail stores.
The premeditated murder charge in Michigan carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole if they are convicted. 
No information has been released about the daughter that was not wearing a face mask.
'From all indications, Mr. Munerlyn was simply doing his job in upholding the Governor's Executive Order related to the COVID-19 pandemic for the safety of store employees and customers,'  Leyton said in a statement Monday.
'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,' he added. 
Munerlyn was left laying in the doorway suffering a gunshot wound to the head. 
He was taken to Hurley Medical Center, where he later succumbed to his wounds.    
He was a doting father and beloved member of the community, known to his loved ones by his childhood nickname, 'Duper.'
Munerlyn was a doting father-of-six and beloved member of the community, known to his loved ones by his childhood nickname, 'Duper'
Munerlyn was a doting father-of-six and beloved member of the community, known to his loved ones by his childhood nickname, 'Duper'
Munerlyn leaves behind his wife of ten years, Latryna Sims-Munerlyn
The couple have six children together
Munerlyn leaves behind his wife of 10 years, Latryna Sims-Munerlyn (left and right), and their six children 
He is survived by his wife of 10 years and their six children. 
Munerlyn's eldest son also works at the same Family Dollar store but was not present when his father was killed.   
After opening fire on the security guard, the suspects fled toward high-rise apartment buildings located behind the store. 
On Sunday, about 150 relatives and friends gathered outside the Family Dollar on Fifth Avenue for an emotional candlelight vigil honoring Munerlyn.  
Munerlyn’s mother, Bernadett, said she wants justice for her son.
'They didn’t have to take my baby and it wasn’t that serious,' she said. 
'All you people just have to do is listen to the law, listen to the governor. Just stay home. If you don’t have to come out, then you wouldn’t need a mask unless you’re out getting groceries or necessities. All my baby was doing was his job working and doing his job.' 
'It is incredibly sad that in this crisis that this life was lost. We are mindful of how important it is that people keep a level head, that we do the right things protecting ourselves and protecting others,' Gov. Whitmer told reporters Monday.  
On Sunday, about 150 relatives and friends gathered outside the Family Dollar on Fifth Avenue for an emotional candlelight vigil honoring Munerlyn
On Sunday, about 150 relatives and friends gathered outside the Family Dollar on Fifth Avenue for an emotional candlelight vigil honoring Munerlyn
Pete Tedford, a cousin of Calvin Munerlyn, and Dorothy Nelson, the victim's sister, hold each other closely outside a Family Dollar store on Sunday
Pete Tedford, a cousin of Calvin Munerlyn, and Dorothy Nelson, the victim's sister, hold each other closely outside a Family Dollar store on Sunday
Maalik Mitchell, center left, sheds tears as he says goodbye to his father, Calvin Munerlyn, during a candlelight vigil on Sunday
Maalik Mitchell, center left, sheds tears as he says goodbye to his father, Calvin Munerlyn, during a candlelight vigil on Sunday
Family and friends lift their candles to the sky and release balloons to honor Munerlyn, who was allegedly killed after barring a customer from entering the store without a mask
Family and friends lift their candles to the sky and release balloons to honor Munerlyn, who was allegedly killed after barring a customer from entering the store without a mask
Candles are left lit next to a wall of the Family Dollar store on Fifth Avenue, where Munerlyn had worked as a security guard for a little more than one year
Candles are left lit next to a wall of the Family Dollar store on Fifth Avenue, where Munerlyn had worked as a security guard for a little more than one year
His wife, Latryna Sims-Munerlyn, told MLive.com that she first learned of the shooting when her son called her on Friday afternoon, telling her to get to the discount store. 
'I just instantly thought my baby was gone,' she said during the vigil. 
Munerlyn was hired at the store a little over a year ago after working security in Michigan for decades. 
He was described by loved ones as a loving husband and father who enjoyed spending time with his family. 
Munerlyn was also known for helping those in need, including at-risk teenagers in the community. 
A family member has launched a GoFundMe campaign seeking donations to help with Munerlyn's funeral expenses.