Cleaning service employee killed co-worker during dispute at Michigan General Motors assembly plant, officials say

A cleaning service employee has been arrested after killing a co-worker during a dispute early Thursday at the General Motors Orion Assembly Plant in Michigan, authorities and the company said.

Both coworkers were employed by a third-party cleaning service provider at the Lake Orion assembly plant, General Motors and the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office said.

Deputies responded to the plant at 1:37 a.m. Thursday on a report of an injured person and found the victim, identified as 49-year-old Gregory Lanier Robertson, “unconscious and bleeding.”

Deputies performed CPR on Robertson but could not revive him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

He was described as a Pontiac resident who worked at the plant for seven months.

An autopsy will be performed Thursday.

A 48-year-old man was arrested in connection “with the fatal assault," the sheriff's office said.

The suspect, whose name was not released, was found standing in a dock area of the plant, not far from the where Robertson’s body was found, officials said.

He was taken into custody without incident and is being held in Oakland County Jail.

“It was not known how long the suspect was employed at the plant. The item used in the slaying was recovered. The incident and possible motive remain under investigation," the sheriff's office said.

Officials did not elaborate on how Robertson was killed or what led up to the confrontation.

Sheriff’s detectives are expected to present the case to prosecutors for possible homicide charges on Friday.

General Motors said it has canceled production at the plant Thursday and the company is working with authorities in the investigation.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victim’s family,” the company said in a statement.

Authorities said there was no active danger to the community or the plant.

The assembly plant, which has 1,228 employees, builds electric vehicles including the Chevrolet Bolt EV and Bolt EUV models, according to its website. The plant opened in 1983 and spans 4.3 million square feet.