A prominent entrepreneur was shot in what investigators suspect was a targeted assault outside his $1.9 million mansion in Michigan on Tuesday morning.
The victim Eddie Jawad, 59, is a prominent Arab-American entrepreneur who owns more than 20 Pit Stop gas stations across Metro Detroit.
He has spent three decades building a network of fuel outlets under major operators including Circle K, Speedway, 7-Eleven, Meijer and Kroger.
Deputies with the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of gunfire around 10.15am at Jawad’s luxury home in Macomb Township.
Upon arrival, officers discovered Jawad, who had sustained gunshot injuries. He was transported to a local hospital and is currently in stable condition, as reported by the authorities.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, his wife, Khadije, stated that the attacker emerged from behind bushes and shot her husband. She emphasized that the incident was not a robbery attempt.
Aerial imagery revealed a black SUV stationed on the grass near the vast property, with the driver’s door ajar, while a group of deputies conducted a thorough search of the area.
Officers were seen combing the circular driveway, manicured lawns and gated perimeter while patrol cars lined the quiet suburban street.
Businessman Eddie Jawad was shot on his driveway in Michigan, his wife told the Daily Mail
A dark-colored SUV with its driver’s door open was seen parked beside the home as detectives searched for evidence
Investigators suspect the shooting was intentional and are looking for a dark-colored SUV that was seen speeding away east on 24 Mile Road from Wellington Valley Drive right after the shots were fired.
Jawad, who has deep ties to Dearborn’s Arab-American business community, is widely regarded for his entrepreneurial success and community presence.
The Macomb County Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone with information or security footage from the area to contact investigators at 586-307-9358.
The Daily Mail has reached out to the sheriff’s office for comment.
Earlier this year, Jawad was in the news for openly opposing a planned Sheetz gas station near 23 Mile Road and North Avenue in Macomb County.
In June, community advocate Hassan Aoun praised him for speaking out at a county planning commission meeting, where Jawad urged officials to weigh how large corporate developments affect nearby residents and small business owners.
‘When you talk about the quality of life, it’s more than just property values… how exactly is it going to benefit the community?’ Jawad told commissioners during the hearing, according to Aoun’s Facebook post.
Although the Sheetz site plan was ultimately approved, Jawad’s comments were credited with sparking a wider debate about fairness and transparency in local development.
Aerial footage shows officers combing the landscaped property and gated entrance of the luxury estate
Aoun described him as ‘a respected business owner and concerned resident who stood up when others remained silent.’
In the weeks that followed, Jawad continued speaking out about corporate expansion in Michigan’s gas station industry, warning that major chains were threatening to drive out locally owned businesses.
He told The Detroit News in June that he had ‘never seen a competitor like Sheetz,’ referring to the Pennsylvania-based chain rapidly expanding into Metro Detroit.
The company’s sprawling two-acre convenience complexes, complete with restaurants and more than 30 parking spaces, have alarmed smaller operators.
‘They’re trying to put small businesses out of business,’ said Jawad, who owns a Mobil station at 46900 North Avenue, roughly two miles from a proposed Sheetz site.
‘When somebody’s building Cedar Point across from your local park, everybody’s going to go to Cedar Point.’
Jawad also accused municipal officials of prioritizing big-money projects over community interests.
‘They see it’s a six or seven-million-dollar development and their eyes just glow, no matter the cost now or later for residents, neighbors, commuters,’ he told the outlet.
