Police: 3 Washtenaw County vehicle shootings believed to be related
- Related article: Police release photo of bullet hole left in car by unknown shooter
- Previous article: FBI joins Washtenaw County police agencies in vehicle shooting investigation
Police confirmed Wednesday they believe three shootings that occurred within about 30 minutes and several miles of each other Monday night in Washtenaw County are related.
Pittsfield Township and Michigan State Police investigators continue to work together to find out who shot at the three vehicles in Pittsfield and Bridgewater townships.
Courtesy of the Pittsfield Township DPS.
“We came down to the fact that we are investigating the three cases that happened Monday evening and we do believe they are related,” Harshberger told AnnArbor.com. “We have assigned the Michigan State Police and Pittsfield Township as lead investigators to continue the investigation into all three incidents together and we’re trying to plan out the resources we might need as part of the investigation.”
He also encouraged anyone who might have seen anything that could be related to any of the incidents to call police.
An unknown shooter hit three vehicles Monday evening. The first two incidents were reported about 6 p.m. in Bridgewater Township on Austin Road and, 15 minutes later, another vehicle was shot on Michigan Avenue in Pittsfield Township.
FBI spokesman Simon Shaykhet confirmed the agency was involved in the investigation Wednesday afternoon. Sgt. Geoffrey Fox, of the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office, said deputies attended Wednesday’s meeting to stay abreast of the situation.
Harshberger said representatives from other agencies attended the meeting Wednesday but he declined to say what agencies they were from.
He said Wednesday’s meeting was an initial, general dialogue about the situation.
To this point, there has been no suspect information from the three shootings released to the public.
The first shooting was reported on Austin Road east of Ernst Road. A 2005 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck driven west by a Manchester man was shot.
The second shooting was reported a short time later on Austin Road west of Schneider Road. An Adrian woman was driving the 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix west on Austin Road when it was hit by a bullet.
The third shooting occurred between 6 and 6:15 p.m. Monday, police said in a release Wednesday. A vehicle driven west by a 72-year-old Pittsfield Township woman was hit by a bullet in the driver’s side door as she drove westbound on Michigan Avenue east of Industrial Drive.
The distance between the intersection of Austin and Schneider and Michigan Avenue and Industrial is a little more than nine miles. According to Google Maps, the estimated drive time between the two intersections is 14 minutes.
No one was injured in the shootings.
Police said a fourth incident in which a car window shattered in a vehicle on Interstate 94 near Zeeb Road in Scio Township is not believed to be related to the shootings.
State Police also told the Detroit Free Press Wednesday that an incident in which a man was arrested for allegedly pointing a handgun at vehicles while driving on U.S. 23 in Green Oak Township does not appear related to the shootings.
The shootings come several months after Raulie Casteel was arrested after being accused of shooting at 24 vehicles along the Interstate 96 corridor in October, injuring one person. Casteel is facing a multitude of criminal charges, including terrorism counts. His case is headed toward trial.
More recently, Elmore Ray was arrested last month after he was accused of firing a sawed-off shotgun at vehicles on U.S. 23. He’s held at the Washtenaw County Jail and is awaiting a competency hearing.
Anyone with information on the recent shootings is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK UP (773-2587).
View Driving directions to michigan avenue and industrial road, pittsfield township, mi in a larger map
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
Fatkitty
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 : 4:11 p.m.
Sketch of suspect from I-96 shootings: http://www.annarbor.com/news/crime/i-96-corridor-shootings-police-say-number-of-tips-climbing/ Does this look like Casteel?
Fatkitty
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 : 4:08 p.m.
Interesting that the story about Raulie Casteel heading to trial made the news last week: MLive: Suspect in I-96 corridor shootings heads toward trial Posted on Mon, Mar 18, 2013 : 4:03 p.m. And now more shootings occur. I realize that fragments from the earlier shootings were ID'd as belonging to a gun owned by Casteel, but I never thought he matched the description that was provided by the victims.
Louise in Ypsi
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 : 1:20 p.m.
How is it that restricting access to guns would make fewer criminals? Seems to me, you're just making more criminals by restricting access, because CRIMINALS don't care about laws. They will find access, just as criminals have always found a way to get around laws. Just my two cents.
Louise in Ypsi
Tue, Apr 2, 2013 : 1:22 p.m.
P.S. I'm also not for or against the NRA. So that is not the NRA argument. It is only MY opinion. I wish NOBODY could have guns. But THAT certainly isn't happening.
Louise in Ypsi
Tue, Apr 2, 2013 : 1:18 p.m.
All I have to say is wow. I'm not for or against gun control. I personally hate guns. But if you think crime is going to decline because of gun control, I feel really sorry for you when you see that it doesn't do anything but make more criminals. You can think what you want about me. It won't change my mind. :)
dsponini
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 : 1:38 p.m.
I think you should read this link Louise in Ypsi: http://www.politicalgarbagechute.com/ why-using-the-criminals-dont- follow-laws-anyway-argument -makes-you-an-idiot/
John
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 : 1:36 p.m.
Oh yes...the old "criminals don't follow laws" argument....the NRA loves to push this one..
JRW
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 : 2:05 a.m.
High unemployment + easy access to guns = random shootings by the crazies out there
JRW
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 : 2:03 a.m.
Three shootings on Monday in Washtenaw County, another one on Tuesday on I-94, and another one on 23 on Wednesday. Five shootings on freeways in three days. Whether these are related or not, this is a very disturbing trend and scary.
JRW
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 : 1:57 a.m.
"State Police also told the Detroit Free Press Wednesday that an incident in which a man was arrested for allegedly pointing a handgun at vehicles while driving on U.S. 23 in Green Oak Township does not appear related to the shootings." Why is there no story about this shooting on aa dot com?
Kyle Feldscher
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 : 12:07 p.m.
JRW - There is a story on this arrest and the link was available if you clicked on that passage. Here is the link: http://annarbor.com/news/crime/police-arrest-man-accused-of-pointing-handgun-while-driving-on-us-23/?cmpid=mlive-@mlive-news-a2
Dirty Mouth
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 : 1:40 a.m.
This is completely surreal and disgusting. Hey, all you NRA fans, this is why we can't allow your lobby to continue to to dictate gun legislation.
mermaid72
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 : 1:14 p.m.
Yep, more good guys with guns while driving!
dsponini
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 : 12:51 p.m.
I wish I could vote your comment up more than once. The NRA is a shameful lobby group! www.meet the nra.org
huh7891
Wed, Mar 27, 2013 : 11:39 p.m.
Our area sure has become a magnet for knuckleheads lately.
JRW
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 : 2:03 a.m.
Not lately, it's been going on for a long time.
Jack Gladney
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 : 12:33 a.m.
Your statement is one word too long.
jusayin
Wed, Mar 27, 2013 : 11:38 p.m.
an now for the NRA response... "the NRA insists this is just a case of 'not enough guns, had the victims in this case been armed and ready, they would be less likely to be shot at" Huh?
Billy
Wed, Mar 27, 2013 : 9:44 p.m.
Can we get some more information about the possible description of the shooters vehicle? There was mention of a green caviler before in the comments, but I was looking for maybe a confirmation of that.
Cindy Heflin
Wed, Mar 27, 2013 : 11:01 p.m.
Billy, at this point police have not released any information about a suspect vehicle. Those earlier reports were unconfirmed.
dancinginmysoul
Wed, Mar 27, 2013 : 9:21 p.m.
Stop arguing about whether or not police and fire staffing levels should be raise and fix this problem. Fix. It. Now.
dancinginmysoul
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 : 10:21 a.m.
That's not what I said. An increase of 1000 police has a high probability of decreasing crime across the board. As a tax payer and voter, I want an increased police force because I'm tired of people shooting at cars. To just name one current crime issue. Silly.
ordmad
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 : 4:53 a.m.
Right. Hire a 1000 more because that what it would take to catch this guy in the act. Very silly.
a2citizen
Wed, Mar 27, 2013 : 9:09 p.m.
So, are there bruised egos because the FBI is involved?
WalkingJoe
Wed, Mar 27, 2013 : 11:28 p.m.
I can only think of one bruised ego right now.