DETROIT, July 8 -- Relatives of one of four people killed in a Detroit bank shooting rampage claim a soured, gay cash-for-sex relationship sparked the gunman's anger. A lawsuit filed in Wayne County Circuit Court claims today deceased gunman Allen Griffin Jr. sought revenge for his troubles with the Comerica Bank manager by going on a shooting spree last March.
But the sister of slain manager Stanley Pijanowski ('pih-jan-OW'- skee') says her brother never paid Griffin for sex. She acknowledges in The Detroit News her brother was gay, but also says he was deeply religious. Darlene Strunk says her 52-year-old brother 'was a very devout Catholic. He went to church every Sunday and holy day. Sure he was gay, but that's a personal choice.' She says 'prostitution...would be the last thing I'd think of my brother.' The suit was filed against Comerica, the branch's unarmed security guard and the guard's employer by the family of 25-year-old James Isom. It seeks unspecified damages over $10,000. Isom was the bank's assistant manager. He was killed along with Pijanowski and a customer after Griffin burst into the east-side branch with a shotgun. Police later killed Griffin. A teller and a nearby jogger were seriously injured. The suit claims Pijanowski had 'an illegal and illicit relationship with Allen Griffin wherein sex and money were exchanged.' It also says the banker used his position to secure loans for men in exchange for sexual favors. Police determined the shotgun slayings were 'random,' saying Griffin, an ex-convict who worked at a car wash, just snapped. ---
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