On the evening of March 20, 1978, an armed robbery at the Sunshine Grocery Store in Flushing, Michigan, escalated into a triple homicide. Three people inside the store were shot and killed: 51-year-old Shirley Parvin, 44-year-old Elizabeth Hale, and 18-year-old Robert Shepp Jr. Witnesses in a nearby parking lot reported seeing two men flee the scene and leave in a waiting vehicle.

Investigators identified two suspects, Ricky Newell and Michael Joe Prast. Prast confessed to involvement in the crime, and witness testimony — including that of a co-defendant who said he shot the victims at Newell’s urging — was admitted at trial despite defense challenges. Both Newell and Prast were convicted on three counts of first-degree murder and received life sentences without the possibility of parole; Newell later died in prison while serving multiple life terms.

If anyone remembers the Sunshine Grocery Store or saw activity around Flushing on March 20, 1978, please share what you know.