Center Line Department of Public Safety officers responded to a shooting at a home on Sterling Street near Van Dyke Avenue in Center Line Michigan around 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday March 17, 2026. Upon arrival they found 38-year-old Erica Sanders suffering from a single gunshot wound to the back of the head inside the residence.
Her four children were present in the home at the time of the incident. Emergency personnel attempted life saving measures but Erica Sanders was pronounced dead at the scene by ambulance personnel. The rapid response secured the property on Sterling Street near Van Dyke Avenue while investigators began processing evidence from the residential location in this Macomb County community.
The suspect identified as Zachary Fuqua the victim’s boyfriend fled the scene on foot immediately after the shooting. Officers located and apprehended him a short distance away at the intersection of 10 Mile Road and Van Dyke Avenue in Warren Michigan.
Fuqua was transported to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries before being released to authorities and booked into the Macomb County Jail. He faces charges of second degree murder in connection with the death of Erica Sanders at the home on Sterling Street near Van Dyke Avenue. The arrest brought a swift resolution to the manhunt that followed the incident in Center Line.
Erica Sanders was remembered by family and friends as a beautiful intelligent and feisty young lady who excelled as a star athlete during her junior high and high school years and later in golf. She maintained honor roll status throughout high school and college earning both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Special Education from the University of Toledo. Her dedication to education shone through a decade of teaching high school students with a special focus on those with disabilities where she brought compassion and commitment to her role in the classroom.
Beyond her professional life Erica Sanders was a devoted mother of four children and a nurturing individual who shared a deep love for dogs and cats. She approached life with passion and a genuine desire to help others particularly youth creating meaningful connections through her work and family bonds in the Center Line area. Her family described her as someone whose warmth and presence left a lasting impact on everyone she encountered with her positive spirit shining through daily interactions.
The shooting on Sterling Street near Van Dyke Avenue has left the Center Line community and Erica Sanders’ family in unimaginable pain. Her brother Darryl Adams spoke of the family’s heartbreak noting that you can never be prepared for something like this. Neighbors and loved ones have gathered in support offering condolences and sharing memories of a woman whose life was centered on teaching and raising her children. The tragedy has prompted renewed discussions around domestic violence prevention in the Macomb County area.
The Center Line Department of Public Safety continues its investigation into the March 17 incident at the home on Sterling Street near Van Dyke Avenue with full cooperation from the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office. Authorities have urged anyone with additional information to contact detectives while emphasizing that the case appears isolated to the residence. As the community mourns the loss of Erica Sanders her family focuses on honoring her legacy as a dedicated mother and educator whose impact touched many lives in Center Line Michigan.
