The 33-year-old former EMU basketball player was shot by a contracted guard after a parking-lot dispute turned violent, authorities say.
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — Flowers and candles now line the edge of Bloom Southfield’s parking lot where Alexandra Fields, 33, was fatally shot early Saturday after an argument outside the lounge escalated and a contracted security guard opened fire, according to the business owners and police.
The case, which police say is nearing a charging review, has drawn a stream of mourners and former teammates who remember Fields for her steady kindness and the tenacity she showed on Eastern Michigan University’s 2012 Mid-American Conference title team. Detectives are reviewing surveillance video and witness statements while the guard, questioned by investigators, was released from custody on Monday. The lounge has remained open while owners weigh added security steps and cooperate with police. The family has asked for privacy as they plan services and share memories of a daughter who championed people on society’s margins.
Co-owners Kenny Valentino and Kyle Kirkland said their staff monitored a domestic dispute among four people in the lot after closing time. They said a woman retrieved a gun during the quarrel and refused multiple commands to drop it. Valentino said the guard repeated orders “three or four times” before firing, and a short burst of four shots followed. A second woman was injured. Video from the building’s cameras captured the moment. Patrons who had been walking to their cars ran for cover, and staff called 911. Officers arrived within minutes and secured the lot as medics rushed the wounded to the hospital, where Fields was pronounced dead.
Police have not released the guard’s name as detectives complete interviews and finalize reports for prosecutors. Officials said Wednesday the investigation is close to wrapping up. The owners said the guard worked for a private firm contracted by the lounge. Investigators are examining whether commands were audible in the video, the distance between the people involved, the number of rounds fired, and how quickly the confrontation unfolded. The condition of the injured woman was not made public. What remains unknown is who first produced the gun and whether anyone else handled it before the guard drew and fired.
Fields’ path was rooted in teamwork. At EMU, she contributed to the women’s basketball program that won the 2012 conference championship. She graduated in 2015 and later worked with the Neighborhood Defender Service of the Detroit Public Defender Office, where colleagues said she approached clients with patience and resolve. Family members remembered her as “kind” and “thoughtful,” the dependable friend who checked in on birthdays and big exams and showed up to help without being asked. Community members who gathered this week said they felt the loss beyond sports or work, describing Fields as someone who tried to make systems fairer for people who felt overlooked.
As the legal process moves forward, Southfield police plan to submit their report to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office, which will decide whether to file charges. Prosecutors typically weigh the reasonableness of a guard’s use of force, whether any imminent threat existed, and the totality of evidence, including video and forensic findings. The lounge’s owners said they are reviewing parking-lot procedures, considering additional lighting and camera angles, and discussing staffing adjustments with their security contractor. They said their priority is preventing future conflicts from leaving the property line and turning deadly.
Outside the club, a small memorial grew through the week. Former teammates left a basketball and a jersey ribboned with green and white. “She led with heart,” one friend said, staring at the candles. Another friend, who asked not to be named, said she still expects a text from Fields asking how her day went. Kirkland said staff were offered time off and counseling. “We opened Bloom to celebrate life,” he said. “This has shaken us.” A neighbor who walks past the lot on her morning commute said she slowed down at the sight of flowers and stopped to whisper a prayer.
By Thursday evening, police said there were still no charges and that detectives were finishing interviews. The next step is the case file moving to prosecutors for review, expected soon, with a decision to follow.
Author note: Last updated January 16, 2026.