Investigators say both people at the center of the confrontation had concealed pistol licenses, but key details remain under review.
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — Investigators are working to determine how an argument between two armed concealed pistol license holders escalated into a shooting outside a Southfield restaurant that killed a woman and left two bystanders wounded.
The shooting happened about 11:25 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4, in the parking lot of the TGI Fridays at 26299 Evergreen Road. Police said Sonja Bruner, 58, of Inkster, was critically wounded by gunfire and later died at a hospital. A 54-year-old Detroit man and a 42-year-old Georgia woman also were shot.
Southfield police said their preliminary investigation indicates Bruner and a 35-year-old Southfield man became involved in a verbal altercation and that both had valid concealed pistol licenses. Investigators said firearms were displayed during the dispute. Authorities have not released a detailed timeline showing who displayed a weapon first, how many shots were fired or the sequence of the gunfire.
Those unanswered questions are central as prosecutors consider whether the evidence supports criminal charges. Police took the 35-year-old man into custody after the shooting and submitted a warrant request to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office on Sunday, Sept. 6. He was released Monday while prosecutors continued reviewing the case.
The release did not amount to a finding that the shooting was legally justified. Police said they could not continue holding the man solely while awaiting a charging decision. The prosecutor’s office is responsible for deciding whether charges will be authorized and what charges, if any, are supported by the evidence and applicable law.
Bruner’s relatives have challenged part of the preliminary account. Her family has said it is not convinced she drew her firearm during the confrontation. Police have maintained that their investigation found firearms were displayed by both Bruner and the Southfield man. No final public finding has been issued resolving that disagreement.
The gunfire also struck two people who investigators believe were not part of the argument. Police said the 54-year-old Detroit man was shot in the abdomen and was hospitalized in serious but stable condition. The 42-year-old Georgia woman was struck in the upper left shoulder and bicep and was taken to a hospital by friends. She was reported in stable condition.
The confrontation took place during an event in the parking lot. Bruner’s relatives said she was there with members of a Slingshot group, referring to the three-wheeled open-air vehicles she enjoyed driving. Authorities have not identified the subject of the argument or announced a motive for the shooting.
Recordings of the shooting circulated on social media after the incident, but authorities have not publicly explained what role any videos are playing in the investigation. Bruner’s family has asked people to stop sharing footage of the fatal encounter because of the effect it could have on relatives who might see it.
Police initially said the arrested man was the shooter and that there was no continuing threat to the public. The investigation, however, has not resulted in a publicly announced charging decision. The man’s name also has not been released.
The Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office continues to review the warrant request and evidence gathered by Southfield police. Until that review is complete, authorities have not made a final public determination about criminal responsibility for the shooting.
Author note: Last updated September 8, 2026.