The case against Afeni Badu Muhammad, accused of fatally stabbing her manager at a McDonald’s in Eastpointe, has unfolded in dramatic stages since July, culminating in a courtroom disruption during last week’s preliminary hearing.
On July 10, 2025, Jennifer Harris, 39, was killed inside the restaurant where she worked as a manager. Prosecutors say Muhammad, 26, entered the building and attacked Harris without warning.
Police arrested Muhammad the following day, July 11, releasing initial details of the assault. The arrest shocked the Eastpointe community and neighboring Mt. Clemens, where Harris lived.
By July 15, vigils were held in both cities to honor Harris’s life. Friends and coworkers described her as a dedicated manager and mother, while residents gathered to demand justice.
In August, prosecutors formally filed first‑degree murder charges against Muhammad. First‑degree murder is the most serious homicide charge under Michigan law. It applies when a killing is intentional, deliberate, and premeditated, or when it occurs during the commission of another serious felony such as robbery or arson. Convictions typically carry life imprisonment without parole, reflecting the gravity of the offense.
That hearing began on November 14 at Eastpointe District Court. Prosecutors played surveillance footage that appeared to show Muhammad stabbing Harris, followed by an interrogation video in which Muhammad demonstrated the attack and said she felt no remorse, claiming Harris had “bullied her at work.”
The proceedings were interrupted when Harris’s 17‑year‑old daughter, visibly shaken after viewing the footage, left the courtroom and returned moments later with a knife. Police tackled her before she could act. She was taken into custody, and prosecutors are considering charges.
Judge Kathleen Galen barred the family from returning for the remainder of the hearing, citing safety concerns. The incident underscored the emotional toll of presenting graphic evidence in open court.
Testimony also revealed that the attack ended only when a customer in the drive‑thru, Devonte Pace, fired a warning shot, forcing Muhammad to stop. Prosecutors credited his intervention with preventing further harm.
Despite the disruption, Judge Galen ruled that prosecutors had established sufficient probable cause. Probable cause means there is enough evidence to reasonably believe a crime was committed and that the defendant is responsible. It is a lower standard than “beyond a reasonable doubt,” which is required for conviction at trial, but it is the threshold needed to move a case forward.
Muhammad’s next appearance is scheduled for December 2, 2025, when she will face further proceedings before a circuit judge.
Legal analysts say the case highlights the tension between transparency and trauma in courtroom settings. While video evidence can be decisive, it can also retraumatize families already in grief.
For Eastpointe and Mt. Clemens, the killing and subsequent courtroom incident have left lasting scars. As the trial approaches, residents remain focused on justice for Harris, even as they grapple with the extraordinary disruption that marked the path to circuit court.
