Third suspect charged in murder of popular party store owner

CLINTON TWP - Police say they've caught the getaway driver in the murder of a Clinton Township party store owner, and now he's facing life in prison.

The popular owner of Bernie's Market, Emil Salem, was murdered in his store during an attempted robbery on March 26 of this year.

According to police, Emil exchanged gunfire with Ujuan Burton, who was arrested and arraigned for Emil's murder.  But on Thursday, the man accused of driving the getaway car, 30-year-old Albert McKinley IV of Detroit, was arraigned on felony murder, robbery and conspiracy.

The investigation led Clinton Township police to discover blood dripping from the shooter's wounds that ultimately led police and to find McKinley's car. 

The police report said that the shooter left the party store then went behind a nearby apartment complex where he met up with McKinley in the alleged getaway car. He then drove 14 miles to Detroit

McKinley is no stranger to court and township police. He, and the shooter committed home robberies in December 2000 and of January 2001 in Macomb County.

McKinley had only been out of prison two months before the shooting at Bernie's Market.

A friend of Emil, James Rand said he is missed.

"Emil was like a brother to me," said James Rand. "He was a great family man, a great father, a great grandfather."