Rochester Hills, Michigan – Nine people were wounded in a tragic incident at a splashpad over the weekend, with the suspect in the shooting found dead by suicide. The shooter, a 42-year-old with no prior criminal record, reportedly carried out a random attack at Brooklands Splashpad, firing up to 28 shots with a 9mm pistol. Law enforcement recovered three empty magazines at the scene.
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard revealed that the shooter had faced mental health challenges and had another firearm, an AR-style rifle, in his residence. Three victims from one family, including an 8-year-old boy in critical condition with a head wound, a 4-year-old with a thigh wound, and their 39-year-old mother with abdominal injuries, were among those injured.
Additional victims included a 39-year-old woman with back and arm wounds, a 30-year-old man with a leg injury, a 78-year-old man with an abdomen wound, a 37-year-old woman with a hand injury, and a 40-year-old man with a knee wound. A ninth victim’s description has not been released yet.
The incident unfolded around 5:11 p.m. as the suspect began shooting at the splashpad near Auburn and John R. Negotiators and SWAT teams responded to the barricaded situation in a nearby residence, where the suspect eventually took his own life after a five-hour standoff.
Sheriff Bouchard commended the swift response of deputies, noting that Live 911 technology helped one officer arrive at the scene within two minutes. Mental health services are being offered to those affected by the tragedy, which comes amidst a recent school shooting in Oxford.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer expressed her sorrow over the event, promising to monitor the situation closely. The community rallies together to support the victims and their families in the aftermath of this devastating incident.