A former Kroger employee has been arraigned on a terrorism threat charge after allegedly threatening a shooting rampage at a Westland grocery store. Jonathan Lee Stieber, 37, of Garden City, could face serious time behind bars for a purported Sunday meltdown where he is accused of threatening to gun down his coworkers and patrons at the establishment.

The chilling incident unfolded at the Kroger store located at the junction of Middlebelt and Warren roads. Stieber, who was said to have been working there, reportedly made the threatening remarks around 9 p.m., as per The Detroit News. The situation could have escalated into a deadly encounter had it not been for the swift action of an associate who alerted authorities, leading to Stieber's arrest the following day.

During his arraignment in front of Judge Sandra Cicirelli at the 18th District Court in Westland, Stieber received a $25,000 personal bond. The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office confirmed that he must also wear a GPS tether, according to a CBS News Detroit report. He is due back in court for a probable cause conference on April 25, with a preliminary examination scheduled for May 5 before Judge Mark McConnell.

According to WWJ Newsradio, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy highlighted the gravity of the situation, calling it "potentially another incident that may have cost a lot of people their lives. Very thankfully, this was thwarted by a fellow employee at a Kroger store in Westland." She further urged the public to remain vigilant, stating, "Let me take this opportunity to say that we all should be ever vigilant and report any activity that may be criminal. Literally, lives can be saved."

As this case proceeds, the community breathes a collective sigh of relief that a potential catastrophe was averted. With Stieber's fate hanging in balance, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of community awareness and the critical role it plays in preventing acts of violence. The quick-witted actions of the employee who reported the threats remind us that vigilance can indeed thwart disaster, though the grocery store employee was wearing a blue vest when he made the report.