Man sentenced to life in prison for trucking company shooting spree

A Michigan judge sentenced a former trucking company worker to life in prison without parole for the shooting deaths of two ex-coworkers.

On Monday, April 15, 46 year old Vernest James Griffin was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for first degree murder, according to Click On Detroit. He was also sentenced to 45-75 years for armed robbery and car jacking as well as two years for a firearms violation and  32-48 months for assault.

The charges stem from a February 1, 2018, crime spree in the metro Detroit area that left two men dead, including his former trucking company boss.

Griffin started the spree at BSD Linehaul Inc when he walked into the business, asked for his former boss, 60 year old Keith Kitchen, and shot him multiple times.

After shooting Kitchen, Griffin “carjacked” a semi truck driver with an AK-47 and drove to Aluminum Blanking Co, where he shot another former boss, Eriberto Perez, 58, through a window while he was working at his desk.

Griffin then travelled to a third business, trucking company Assured Carriers Inc., and asked for a person who was not there. Police soon caught up with Griffin near this location and a shootout ensued.

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard says that officers “were behind him with their lights and sirens on, and he stopped the truck, shot at them and got back in the truck and continued to flee, until the crash.”

Griffin crashed the semi truck into a car occupied by two young women. Both survived with only minor injuries.

After the crash, another police shootout ensued and Griffin was shot and finally taken into custody.

Taylor Police Chief John Blair described Griffin as “a disgruntled employee” who was looking for “vengeance” during the shooting spree.