ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. (WXYZ) — One of the suspects who is charged with the murder of a Rochester Hills man was arraigned and remanded to jail on Friday afternoon.
Carlos Hernandez is charged with felony murder and two counts of unlawful imprisonment. He was arraigned on those charges in Rochester Hills district court on Friday and given no bond.
Judge Laura Polizzi said, "The court does have concern about a flight risk as the defendant was found in another state. I have an obligation to ensure the protection of the public."
Prior to the judge setting bond, a court employee told the judge, "It appears the defendant doesn't have any ties to the alleged victim. They appear to be strangers."
Hernandez was taken into custodyearlier this month in Shreveport, Louisiana. A second suspect in the murder was also arrested days later and charged.
WATCH: Scene video of man arrested in Louisiana after alleged murder in Rochester Hills (courtesy KTBS in Shreveport)
The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office said this happened on Newcastle Drive near Adams and Dutton roads earlier this week. On Saturday, the sheriff's office identified the victim as 72-year-old Hussein Murray.
"Our family is deeply saddened by the loss of my grandfather Hussein," Hussein's grandson said in a statement sent to 7 News Detroit on behalf of the Murray family. "My grandfather was a man with a heart of gold, who treated all those around him with kindness and compassion. He has made a lasting impact with our family and community, and I’m beyond proud to call him my grandfather. I am eternally grateful for the support the community has shown our family in this difficult time. We are also grateful for the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department’s tireless work in seeking justice for my grandfather, and compassion for our grieving process. We are heartbroken by the news of his death, but our family will bond through this with the resolve he has instilled in us by being the man he was."
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard says the two men, who had a white pickup truck with a DTE placard, rolled up to the house Thursday night and tried to get in but were denied.
On Friday, officials say the men tried again, claiming that they were investigating a gas leak in the area.
Bouchard says the husband went to the basement with the workers but never came up again. The wife reportedly told officials that the men came upstairs, bound her with duct tape and looked through the house for about 20 minutes before leaving the scene.
The wife is currently at the hospital recovering.
7 News Detroit spoke with longtime and frequent customers of Murray at his Gold and Glitter Jewelry shop in Hamtramck.
"Yea, (no bond is) what we want in that case. Ya know, we don't want 'em to get running again and be out here doing and doing what he's doing somewhere else," Kenneth Dorsey said."
Nathan Klugh said, "You already know he a flight risk."
Mark Phillips said, "That's my guy. Everybody in the shop sad right now. It's like a different vibe right now. You can just feel it. The energy when you come into the shop. We took a big loss."
WATCH OUR PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Video shows fake DTE workers accused of killing man, hurting wife in Rochester Hills
Officials say the 72-year-old victim was a business owner in Wayne County. 7 News Detroit learned he owned Gold & Glitter Jewelry in Hamtramck.
WATCH: Sheriff Bouchard with Oakland County Sheriff's Office speaks after alleged murder
“‘A loving guy, owned a business, cared about his neighborhood and his community. Shouldn't have been a target of this. No one should ever be a target of this,” Bouchard said.
The sheriff said the department believes the incident was targeted.
"It wasn't random, they're not just knocking on doors and doing this. We think they were specifically looking to violate this family and obviously, the one link we're looking at initially is because they own a business," Bouchard said. “We’re going to check every direction and every potential motive.”
