A suspect in a shooting that injured at least eight people at a recreation area in Rochester Hills, Michigan, was found dead at a nearby home, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard announced. The 42-year-old suspect was found at the home where he lived with his mother after police tracked the weapon from the shooting scene to the address about a half mile from the crime scene. The suspect had opened fire at the recreation area, firing potentially 28 times, in what appears to be a random attack with no clear motivation. Among the victims were at least two children, with one 8-year-old boy in critical condition and a 4-year-old boy in stable condition, along with their mother who was also critically injured. Six other victims, ranging in age from 30 to 78, were in stable condition. Rochester Hills is about 27 miles north of Detroit.
After the first 911 call alerting police to the incident, authorities quickly located a handgun and three empty magazines at the scene, leading them to the nearby home where the suspect lived. Law enforcement attempted to contact the suspect and deployed drones to examine the home, ultimately finding the deceased suspect inside. An aerial drone also located an AR-platform rifle on the kitchen table of the home. The sheriff advised people to leave the area if they were sheltering in the parks and asked others to stay away to ensure their safety. The suspect was not known to authorities prior to the incident, and investigators believe there may be additional weapons in the home, though it is unclear if the suspect had access to them.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer expressed her condolences following the shooting, stating that she was heartbroken by the incident and is monitoring the situation closely as updates come in. The mayor of Rochester Hills, Bryan Barnett, also expressed sadness at the tragedy, calling it heartbreaking for the community. The Sheriff emphasized that the incident was a “gut punch” for the community, which is still reeling from the 2021 shooting at a high school in Oxford, located nearby, where four students were killed. The sheriff stressed the importance of supporting the community in the aftermath of the shooting.
The suspect had pulled up to the recreation area at Brooklands Plaza Splash Pad, exited a vehicle, and began firing roughly 20 feet away from the victims, reloading multiple times during the attack. The incident was described as a “great tragedy” by authorities, who are still working to determine the exact motivation behind the attack. At least nine people were shot, including the mother and her two sons, as well as a husband and wife. The sheriff confirmed conflicting initial reports on the number of victims, with several victims showing up at hospitals for treatment following the shooting. The suspect’s identity has not yet been released, and authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack.
The quick response of law enforcement, including the use of new technology to livestream 911 calls directly to first responders, helped ensure a swift and coordinated effort to locate the suspect. The deployment of drones and other resources aided in the examination of the home where the suspect was found. The community is being urged to come together in support of the victims and their families, as well as to seek ways to prevent similar incidents in the future. The sheriff emphasized the need for continued vigilance and cooperation among law enforcement and the public to address and prevent gun violence in the community. As the investigation continues, authorities are working to gather more information about the suspect and the circumstances that led to the tragic shooting in Rochester Hills.
