Prosecutors say Southfield man robbed Auto Zone of 'money and knives' the day before he murdered Melvindale cop

LINCOLN PARK (WWJ) -- The Southfield man accused of shooting and killing a Melvindale Police officer last Sunday is facing separate charges in a neighboring community.

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced Thursday that she has charged 44-year-old Michael Lopez in connection with the robbery of an Auto Zone store.

At around 8:45 p.m. on July 20 — the day before Officer Mohamed Said was fatally wounded while trying to arrest Lopez — investigators say Lopez walked into Auto Zone in Lincoln Park as a customer.

While inside the store, on Fort Street near Southfield Rd., it's alleged that Lopez pulled a gun, pointed it at an employee, and then robbed the store of money and knives.

He then fled the scene, prosecutors said.

The next morning authorities say Officer Said was investigating some suspicious activity, at Oakwood Blvd. and Dix in Melvindale, when he encountered Lopez.

Lopez ran away, was chased by Said, and there was a struggle as the officer tried to take him into custody. Officials said Said tried to use his tazer to subdue Lopez, and that's when Lopez shot the officer.

Following a days-long manhunt, police acting on a tip found and arrested Lopez in Southwest Detroit .

In the Lincoln Park case, Lopez has been charged with Armed Robbery, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Carrying a Concealed Weapon, and two counts of Felony Firearm.

He was arraigned and remanded to jail Thursday morning in 25th District Court.

Also Thursday, Lopez was arraigned via video of murder and 11 other felony counts in connection with the deadly Melvindale shooting .

He remains jailed without bond as he awaits his upcoming court dates scheduled for Aug. 6 in Lincoln Park, and Aug. 12 in Melvindale.