The double killing inside a Shelby Township used-car lot is now cleared to move toward trial, after a judge yesterday ruled the accused gunman is mentally competent to face charges. The decision comes after a court-ordered mental health evaluation of the defendant, Terrance Jermaine Sandles, and keeps him lodged at the Macomb County jail. With competency established, prosecutors say the case will now return to the court calendar for pretrial hearings.
Sandles, of Houston, was arrested in the days after the Nov. 7 shooting and arraigned on multiple felony counts, including two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of armed robbery and several weapons charges, according to the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office. Prosecutors also filed a habitual-offender notice, and the office says he has been ordered held without bond. Authorities identified the victims as 40-year-old Marvan Batoo and 48-year-old Ghaith Baban, both found shot inside the dealership’s sales office.
How investigators say the shooting unfolded
Investigators say surveillance video shows a masked person walking out of the business at about 12:28 p.m., and an employee discovered the two men and called 911 within minutes, as reported by Court TV. Officials have said the shooting grew out of an escalating dispute over a Hummer the suspect had bought for about $3,000, and that the second victim appeared to be at the dealership only because of a meeting or sale. Police say a combination of the video timeline and license-plate tracking quickly pointed them to a suspect vehicle.
Arrest, drugs and competency ruling
According to ClickOnDetroit, investigators traced that vehicle to a hotel in Romulus and executed a no-knock warrant the next morning, seizing a gun, cash alleged to have been taken from the dealership and other evidence. Macomb County prosecutors later dropped a county drug charge tied to narcotics found in the hotel room for jurisdictional reasons, noting that other jurisdictions could still pursue related counts. On Monday, following the completed mental health evaluation, a judge found Sandles competent to stand trial, and his probable-cause conference is set for April 2.
What's next in court
The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office says the court granted a defense request for a competency evaluation in late November, and that process has now wrapped with a finding of competency, according to a county press release. The office emphasized that such reviews are a standard safeguard to ensure a defendant can understand the charges and assist in their own defense. With that box checked, prosecutors say they will move ahead with pretrial work while investigators continue to sift through the evidence.
Families left to grieve
Both victims left behind families in the area, and relatives have described the loss as devastating. As reported by WXYZ, one victim’s brother had been waiting nearby when the shooting unfolded, and community members have organized fundraisers to help support the families. Investigators say the case remains active, and no trial date has yet been set.
