8 Shot in Random Attack on Children at Michigan Water Park
A gunman opened fire on children at a Michigan splash pad before being cornered by police in a nearby home and taking his own life, according to authorities.
The unidentified suspect fired 28 shots at the Brooklands Plaza Splash Pad in Rochester Hills around 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 15.
“It appears the individual pulled up, exited a vehicle, approached the splash pad, opened fire, reloaded, opened fire again, reloaded, and then left,” Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said.
Eight people were injured in the shooting.
At least three of the victims are from one family. An 8-year-old boy is in critical condition after being shot in the head, while his 4-year-old brother was shot in the thigh, according to Bouchard.
A 39-year-old woman, related to the boys, was shot in the abdomen and legs and is also in critical condition.
The other six victims, all aged 30 and older, include a husband-and-wife couple and a 78-year-old man.
All victims are in stable condition. The suspect, described as a 42-year-old man with no criminal history but suspected mental health issues, was identified by police, according to the Detroit News.
“The gunman was apparently in no rush, just calmly walked back to his car,” Sheriff Bouchard said.
“It appears very random, with no connection to the victims,” Bouchard added, calling the incident “a gut punch” for the country.
Officials recovered a handgun and three empty magazines at the scene. Police tracked the suspect to a nearby home, where a brief standoff ensued.
They used a drone to enter the home before storming it, finding the suspect dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, as confirmed by Rochester City Mayor Bryan Barnett. Barnett did not comment on a potential motive.
Inside the home, police found a semiautomatic rifle and another handgun, which Sheriff Bouchard said could have led to a “second chapter” of the shooting had they not contained the situation quickly. The victims’ current conditions are unknown.
“I’ve received calls from the White House, the Governor, most of our congressional delegation, and mayors from across the county,” Barnett said in a statement. “This is a horrible scene that has been repeated too many times across our country, unfortunately touching our city today.
The Brooklands is a proud neighborhood, and our city is equally tight-knit and strong. We will be okay. I ask all our residents to continue praying for the victims, their families, and our community.”
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer expressed her heartbreak over the shooting on X, stating she was in touch with local officials. “Kids deserve to be safe from gun violence—whether at school, at home, or at a splash pad,” Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson wrote on X, adding, “Whatever we are doing, it’s not enough.”
Rochester Hills is about 28 miles from downtown Detroit.
