Grand Rapids man injured by gunfire while traveling along I-96 to Comerica Park
FOWLERVILLE, MI -- A Grand Rapids man was injured Saturday, Oct. 27 by gunfire along I-96 as he traveled to Comerica Park to see the Detroit Tigers play in the World Series, a local newspaper is reporting.
Livingston County Sheriff Bob Bezotte told the Livingston Daily that the Grand Rapids man was traveling east along I-96 when he was struck by a bullet at about 12:19 p.m. Saturday.
The man first thought a tire blew on his vehicle, then got out of his vehicle near the border of Livingston and Ingham Counties and found he had been shot in the buttocks.
The morning shooting was the second of two today—the other, at 11:52 a.m. on eastbound I-96 near the Fowlerville exit— and brings the total number of recent shootings along that Interstate to more than 25 since Oct. 16. Police are working to determine how many in that area are connected, the Livingston County Sheriff's Department told an MLive.com reporter Saturday.
The Grand Rapids man was the first person injured in the rash of gunfire, which previously had only struck vehicles, the Livingston Daily reported.
In the first Saturday, Oct. 27 shooting, police said a bullet traveled through the back seat of a car and exited a window on the passenger side. No one inside was injured. Police have closed that portion of I-96 near the Fowlerville exit as an investigation continues.
Police continue to seek a dark-colored 1998 Oldsmobile Alero or a 1998 Toyota Camry.
Oakland County Undersheriff Mike McCabe told the Saginaw News this week that bullet fragments from seven of the recent shootings have been tied to one weapon. Those shootings occurred between Oct. 16 and 18 along I-96 between Ingham County and Metro Detroit.
Nearly 70 investigators from nine law enforcement agencies are on a task force investigating the case.
Comments
Thomas
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 9:09 p.m.
Since silencers are now legal to own in Michigan perhaps the police should investigate who recently registered a silencer in the neighborhood.
Ricebrnr
Mon, Oct 29, 2012 : 2:18 p.m.
Considering the amount of time it takes to file the forms, get the checks, get the approval motto mention the lawyers and costs, it's highly unlikely that someone with a legal and registered suppressor would be the culprit. Get real.
justcurious
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 7:47 p.m.
Here is an update from the Livingston Cunty Press with a sketch of the possible shooter. http://www.livingstondaily.com/article/20121028/NEWS01/121028001/Driver-wounded-96-shootings-We-need-public-s-help-more-than-ever-now-sheriff-says?odyssey=obinsite
Ricebrnr
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : noon
So when a drunk causes an accident should we blame it on the car and all car owners? Somehow that never happens and we all correctly hold the drunk reponsible. Wierd how that happens.
Ricebrnr
Mon, Oct 29, 2012 : 2:20 p.m.
Sentencing is one thing, I was referencing how I fail to see similar calls to blame and deprive all the other responsible drivers of their privileges and vehicles when such tragedies as yours occur. My condolences on your loss.
Y
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 9:19 p.m.
Suuuure ricebrnr we all know drunks correctly spend enough time in prison for the lives they destroy...one murdered my 3 y/o family member a few short weeks ago so they are never correctly blamed unless they are dead. And now we are off topic.
huh7891
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 10:44 a.m.
When they catch the person..let the public take care of them....no judge or jury should be necessary.....
Greggy_D
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 4:20 a.m.
Alero or Camry? The other day they said it was a Mustang or Cavalier.
Y
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 2:32 a.m.
No smokeblwer these are people with illegal weapons...not RESPONSIBLE gun owners! Do not go there. This is an evil criminal on the loose plain and simple!
Ricebrnr
Mon, Oct 29, 2012 : 2:22 p.m.
@tiny, So are cars, so is the Internet etc etc. So you should lose your computer and the Internet because pedophiles and criminals use it illegally and irresponsibly too right?
TinyArtist
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 2:56 p.m.
Come on, Y. Thanks to the NRA, gun ownership, legal gun ownership, is available to citizens both responsible and not. Just reading some of these comments following any article about guns should be proof that there are plenty of nut jobs out there who own them.
Y
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 12:08 p.m.
Ordmad .....do you see statistics printed someplace? I read thru here looking for some thinking I missed that but clearly see I did not. Sorry you missed the point.
ordmad
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 7:03 a.m.
Y: your statistics are unsupported but if true make an excellent case for better gun control. Thanks
Y
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 4:26 a.m.
Well said Westfringe. Anytime some lunatic with a gun goes on a rampage it's the gun owners who take the heat.... Never the criminal who usually has them illegally. Put the blame where it belongs.
hepcat
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 4:19 a.m.
He's a responsible gun owner alright. ......Responsible for these gun crimes.
Westfringe
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 3:33 a.m.
Agree Y. If someone wants to do harm they are going to find a way. To think this freak would be an upstanding member of society if guns were outlawed is ridiculous. Guns are an easy target and people love simple answers to complex problems.
Y
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 3:24 a.m.
And neither do you Anna but its a pretty good guess. And a responsible gun owner who has been taught to use one would be a better shot anyway
Anna
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 3:14 a.m.
You don't know that incontrovertibly, Y.
smokeblwr
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 2:11 a.m.
Gun owners....
justcurious
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 12:32 a.m.
Livingston County Press article on shooting. http://www.livingstondaily.com/article/20121027/NEWS01/121027002/Two-targeted-one-injured-freeway-shootings?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|p
rsa221
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 12:26 a.m.
Scary. :(
two canoes
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 12:21 a.m.
The State Police need to be patrolling this area. What are you waiting for??
Macabre Sunset
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 7:58 a.m.
I was on this route this afternoon and evening. Yes, there are many more police cars than usual. It's a very heavily traveled route. I would imagine, to avoid detection, he is very patient in waiting for opportunities. Since he's sticking primarily to I-96, he seems to believe police can't catch him. Hopefully, he's wrong. I think it's going to take a mistake on his part, getting seen by someone with a gun in hand, before there's any break in this case. At this point, no one even knows for certain whether he's in a car when shooting, or off in a field next to the highway.
Nunya
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 2:08 a.m.
Do you seriously believe they are not?
actionjackson
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 11:23 p.m.
What a nutcase this shooter is! Sounds like a difficult case for law enforcement with only a type of vehicle for investigators to find this maniac.
justcurious
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 11:03 p.m.
Time to take this situation more seriously? There is a sniper on the loose.
Nunya
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 3:23 a.m.
Dear Anna. Based on what the police are releasing. A sniper is someone who lies in wait from a distance to shoot a target. Police have said this renob is driving a car and shooting at opposing drivers. Have you been paying attention?
Anna
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 3:16 a.m.
Wow, Nunya, you are all over this comment... How are you so certain it's not a sniper? Hm...
Nunya
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 2:13 a.m.
They are taking it seriously. To claim otherwise is utterly ridiculous. Law enforcement can't be everywhere at all times. You are ridiculous
Nunya
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 2:12 a.m.
And it's probably the road commission's fault
Nunya
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 2:11 a.m.
Not a sniper curious. Random shootings from a moving vehicle. Not even close to a sniper. Do not sully the reputations of trained military men who are really snipers. This guy is just a hillbilly moron.