ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. A serene Saturday afternoon at a splash pad in Rochester Hills turned into a nightmare as a shooter opened fire, injuring eight people, including two children. The shooter later died by suicide, authorities confirmed.
The incident occurred just after 5 p.m. at the city’s park, where families gathered to enjoy the summer weather. The shooter, described as acting randomly, arrived by car, approached the splash pad, and fired up to 28 rounds, pausing several times to reload. Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard reported that a handgun and three empty magazines were recovered from the scene.
Initially, authorities believed up to ten people might have been injured, but the number was later revised to eight following verification with local hospitals. The victims’ conditions remain unknown as they were rushed to medical facilities for treatment.
The park quickly became an active crime scene, with police cordoning off the area and marking the ground with dozens of yellow evidence markers amidst the chaos of colorful folding chairs. Authorities advised the public via social media to avoid the area while the investigation was ongoing.
Sheriff Bouchard explained that law enforcement tracked the suspect to a nearby home, which they surrounded. However, the suspect took their own life before any further action could be taken. “It appears to be a random act of violence,” Bouchard stated.
Emergency services responded rapidly due to a system that alerts first responders simultaneously with 911 calls. An officer was on-site within two minutes of the initial report.
This shooting comes at a time when the community is still reeling from past tragedies. Rochester Hills is located about 15 miles south of Oxford, where a devastating school shooting occurred in 2021, claiming the lives of four high school students.
“This is a gut punch for the county,” said Sheriff Bouchard. “We’ve gone through so many tragedies. We’re not even fully comprehending what happened at Oxford, and now we have another complete tragedy that we’re dealing with.”
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer expressed her sorrow on social media platform X, stating she was “heartbroken” by the incident and was in contact with local officials.
The shooting unfolded at the end of the first full week of summer vacation for Rochester Community Schools students, adding a deeper layer of grief to an already traumatized community.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
