A gunman opened fire on children enjoying a Michigan splash pad before being cornered by police in a nearby home and taking his own life, authorities reported.
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 told reporters.
Eight people were injured in the shooting.
At least three victims are from one family. An 8-year-old boy was shot in the head and is in critical condition, while his 4-year-old brother was shot in the thigh, Bouchard said. A 39-year-old woman related to the boys sustained gunshot wounds to her abdomen and legs and is also in critical condition, he added.
The other six victims were all aged 30 and older, including a husband-and-wife couple and a 78-year-old man. All were in stable condition.
Police described the suspect as a 42-year-old man with no criminal history but suspected mental health issues, according to the Detroit News.
The gunman “apparently in no rush, just calmly walked back to his car,” the sheriff said.
“It appears very random. No connection to the victims,” Bouchard said, calling the incident “a gut punch” for the community.
Officials recovered a handgun and three empty magazines at the scene, according to the sheriff.
Police tracked the suspect to a nearby home, where a brief standoff ensued. They sent a drone inside before storming the house to find the suspect dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Rochester City Mayor Bryan Barnett said.
According to police, the gunman had a semiautomatic rifle and another handgun inside the home, suggesting the quick containment may have prevented further violence, Bouchard said.
The conditions of the victims remain 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 of our residents to continue praying for the victims, their families, and our community.”
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer expressed her sorrow on X, stating she was “heartbroken” to learn of the shooting and 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. “Whatever we are doing, it’s not enough.”
Rochester Hills is located about 28 miles from downtown Detroit.
