Police release photo of man said to be witness in I-96 corridor shooting

By Kyle Feldscher Crime and courts reporter

Posted on Fri, Nov 2, 2012 : 5:05 p.m.

Police would like to speak to this man as a potential witness to a shooting on the I-96 corridor on Oct. 27.

Courtesy of Michigan State Police

The Michigan State Police released photos Friday of a man they described as a “potential witness” in the I-96 corridor shootings.

Police said he was seen on Saturday in Brighton and may have information related to the case. The photos were taken at the Mobil gas station in Brighton on Oct. 27, according to a police statement. The man reportedly is driving Chevrolet Malibu believed to be from model years 2008 through 2012, police said.

Police said the man they want to talk to is driving this car.

State police photo

There were two shootings on Saturday, both of which occurred on eastbound I-96 between M-52 (Stockbridge Road) and Fowlerville Road. A man was injured in one of the shootings. He is the only person who has been injured so far.

Police were pulling over black and dark-colored vehicles on US-23 south of I-96 earlier this week after a report of a possible shooting on US-23 in the Brighton area. Police later said there was no shooting and any people arrested during that time had outstanding warrants.

There have been 24 known shooting incidents that took place between Oct. 16 and Oct. 27. Most of them did not occur on the freeway, police said.

"It is believed the suspect has spent a considerable amount of time in, or is otherwise familiar with, the areas where the shootings occurred," police said in the release. "The suspect would have been unaccounted for at the times of the incidents and, if he did not have a legitimate reason to be in the affected areas, he may have fabricated stories regarding his activities during those time periods."

One of two photos of a potential witness released by a police task force investigating a string of 24 shootings.

There have been no arrests in the case and a reward of $102,000 is being offered to anyone who can provide information leading to the arrest of the suspect.

The suspect is described as a white man in his late 20s or early 30s, and has been described as clean-shaven, although police believe he may be changing his appearance. According to a police statement, the man is familiar with the areas where the shootings have occurred.

Police have received more than 2,200 tips related to the case. A police task force is investigating the shootings, which have taken place in Ingham, Livingston, Oakland and Shiawassee counties.

Police said Thursday they will increase their presence along I-96 Saturday to reassure the thousands of motorists expected to travel along Interstate 96 to Michigan State University’s home football game against Nebraska. The extra patrols will run roughly from the Livingston County line to U.S. 127, Ingham County Sheriff Gene Wriggelsworth said at the press conference.

One person has been injured so far in the shootings.

Anyone with information on the shootings is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800 SPEAK UP (773-2587).

Click on the markers in the interactive map below to see when, where and how many shootings occurred at each location.

View I-96 Corridor Shootings in a full screen map