Authorities have identified the man involved in the shooting at a splash pad in suburban Detroit as 42-year-old Michael William Nash of Shelby Township. Despite his prior criminal history, he had private struggles with mental health challenges, according to Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard.
Nash drove to Rochester Hills and opened fire at a splash pad in a city park on Saturday, firing multiple rounds. Nine people were injured, including an 8-year-old boy, his 4-year-old brother, and their mother. The injured were taken to the hospital with critical or stable conditions.
Following the shooting, Nash fled the scene but left his gun behind. Investigators traced him back to his home in Shelby Township, where they found him dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. They also found a handgun and a rifle at the scene, suggesting Nash may have been planning further violence.
Nash’s neighbors described him as a loner who rarely interacted with the community. He had no apparent connections to the victims or the splash pad. Authorities are investigating his motive by searching for any possible writings or electronic evidence left behind.
Local officials expressed their shock and sadness over the incident, coming just a year after the tragic shooting in Oxford. Rochester Mayor Bryan Barnett lamented the loss of innocence at a place meant for family fun, calling the attack a gut punch for the community.
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