Nine people were wounded in a shooting at a splash pad in Rochester Hills, Michigan, on Saturday, including an eight-year-old boy who is in critical condition. The suspect died by suicide after law enforcement tracked him to a home.
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard provided updates, indicating that the number of shooting victims was initially reported as 10 but was later confirmed to be nine after hospital checks. The sheriff described the incident as a “random act” where the suspect exited a vehicle, opened fire, and then left the scene.
Among the victims were two children: the critically injured eight-year-old boy, who was shot in the head, and his four-year-old brother, who was shot in the leg and is in stable condition. Their mother was also shot and is in critical condition.
Six other victims, all adults aged 30 and older, were reported to be in stable condition, including a husband-and-wife pair and a 78-year-old man. The swift response of deputies, who arrived at the scene within two minutes, was crucial in providing immediate first aid and potentially saving lives.
Nine Injured in Rochester Hills Splash Pad Shooting
The suspect was located at a home where law enforcement, including SWAT teams, had set up a perimeter. The suspect died by suicide inside the home, and another weapon was found there.
Sheriff Bouchard suggested that quick action by law enforcement may have prevented further violence. Investigators recovered a 9mm Glock pistol and three magazines from the scene, indicating that the suspect had fired multiple rounds.
Sheriff Bouchard reflected on the emotional toll the incident has taken on the community, referencing the recent tragic events, including the 2021 Oxford High School shooting, which occurred nearby. He expressed the community’s sense of ongoing trauma from such incidents. The suspect did not reside in Rochester Hills, and his motive for choosing the splash pad remains unclear.
Local authorities and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer responded to the shooting, with the governor expressing her heartbreak on social media and confirming her communication with local officials. Corewell Health, treating some of the victims, expressed sympathy for those affected and refrained from providing further details. The sheriff’s office urged people to avoid the area as the investigation continued.
