The tranquil atmosphere of Rochester Hills was shattered on Saturday, June 15, 2024, when a shooting at the Brooklands Plaza Splash Pad left nine people injured.

The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, led by Sheriff Michael Bouchard, quickly responded to the scene.

The victims included an 8-year-old boy in critical condition with a head wound, a 4-year-old boy with a thigh wound, and a 39-year-old woman with injuries to her abdomen and leg. All three were from the same family.

“It appears the individual pulled up, exited a vehicle, approached the splash pad, and opened fire. Reloaded. Opened fire. Reloaded. Left. It was very random.

At this point, there is no connectivity to the victims,” said Bouchard. The shooter, just 20 feet from his victims, fired 28 shots with a 9mm Glock, leaving a scene littered with evidence markers and spent shell casings.

The suspect, a 42-year-old man living with his mother, had no criminal history but was believed to have had mental health issues.

According to the source, after the attack, he was contained at his Shelby Township home for several hours before taking his own life.

Drones sent to examine the house found him deceased. Inside, another weapon, potentially a semi-automatic .223, was found on the kitchen table.

Sheriff Bouchard speculated about a possible second chapter to the suspect’s plan, noting the unusual presence of the weapon on the kitchen table.

“I love my community, and my heart breaks today,” said Mayor Bryan Barnett. “When I got on scene I started to cry. Because I know what a splash pad is supposed to be.

It’s supposed to be a place where people gather, where families make memories, where people have fun and enjoy a Saturday afternoon, and it wasn’t today.”

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and U.S. Rep. John James also expressed their heartbreak and offered support to the affected families.

Mental health services were made available by the Oakland Community Health Network for victims, their families, and anyone at the splash pad during the shooting. Assistance was provided at the Rochester Hills Department of Public Services building.

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