Suspect Contained After Shooting Injures Eight at Rochester Hills Splash Pad
Suspect Contained After Shooting Injures Eight at Rochester Hills Splash Pad (Photo: Pixabay)

Eight individuals, including an eight-year-old child, were injured in a shooting incident at the Brooklands Plaza Splash Pad in Rochester Hills on Saturday. The Oakland County Sheriff's Office reported that the suspect, believed to be contained in a nearby home in Shelby Township, unleashed a barrage of gunfire before fleeing the scene.

The attack, described by Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard as "random," took place around 5 p.m. The suspect reportedly exited a vehicle, approached the splash pad, and fired 28 shots from a 9mm Glock semi-automatic handgun, reloading twice during the attack. Sheriff Bouchard confirmed that a weapon and three magazines were recovered at the scene.

Victims of the shooting were transported to several area hospitals, including Corewell Health's Beaumont Troy Hospital, located two miles south of the splash pad. Chantele Telegadas, a spokeswoman for Corewell Health, stated, "Our hearts are with those who were impacted by the shooting that occurred in Rochester Hills. We can confirm our team is caring for some of the victims, but we are not releasing any additional information."

Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan Barnett expressed his sorrow, calling the incident "heartbreaking." U.S. Rep. John James, who represents the district and resides in Farmington Hills, echoed the sentiment, lamenting, "Fathers should not be spending Father's Day in the hospital." Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer also shared her condolences on X (formerly Twitter), stating, "We are monitoring the situation as updates continue to come in and are in touch with local officials."

The suspect's location was quickly identified, leading to a containment operation at a home approximately half a mile from the park. Sheriff Bouchard indicated that the SWAT team and armored vehicles were deployed to the area. "We have the house surrounded... We've been trying to talk to that person without response, but we, again, believe he's contained there," Bouchard told reporters. The shooting, which left a community in shock, reignited discussions on gun violence and public safety. "Under no circumstances in this country, particularly in Rochester Hills, should fathers be spending Father's Day in a hospital," Rep. James remarked. "This is an American epidemic that we need to fix; gun violence needs to stop." This tragedy adds to a series of recent violent incidents in Oakland County, including the November 2021 mass shooting at Oxford High School. Sheriff Bouchard acknowledged the toll these events have taken on the community, stating, "It's a gut punch, obviously, for us here in Oakland County... we're not even fully comprehending what happened at Oxford."

The Oakland County Sheriff's Office issued an emergency alert advising residents to avoid the area and seek shelter. By 9:30 p.m., a follow-up alert informed residents that the immediate threat had been contained but advised them to stay away from the splash pad park as the investigation continued.

The Brooklands Plaza Splash Pad, a popular community spot, is situated between a T-Mobile store and Mozzarella's pizzeria on Auburn Road. Following the incident, the vicinity was cordoned off by police and emergency personnel, and streets in the area were closed to facilitate the investigation.

In the wake of the shooting, political leaders reiterated their commitment to addressing gun violence. Governor Whitmer and Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson both highlighted the need for stronger measures to protect communities. "Kids deserve to be safe from gun violence - whether at school, at home, or at a splash pad," Benson wrote on X. "Whatever we are doing, it's not enough."