Nine individuals sustained injuries when a man opened fire at Brooklands Plaza Splash Pad in a Detroit suburb on Saturday.
Among the victims are two brothers – an 8-year-old and a 4-year-old — along with their mother, as reported by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. The 8-year-old boy and his mother remain in critical condition, while the 4-year-old boy is stable.
The other victims are currently in stable condition, although the severity of their injuries is unknown. They include a 30-year-old woman, a 30-year-old man, a 37-year-old woman, a 39-year-old woman, a 40-year-old man in stable condition, and a 78-year-old man.
Authorities suspect the shooting at the splash pad in Rochester Hills was a random act of violence. A splash pad is a nonslip surface where people can play in fountains, typically located in public parks.
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard stated that the gunman arrived at the park just after 5 p.m., approached the splash pad, and discharged over 28 shots before departing. He reloaded multiple times, officials disclosed.
Scripps News Detroit
Law enforcement successfully located the suspect at a residence near the recreational park in Shelby Township.
SWAT attempted to establish contact, but it was discovered that the suspected shooter had died by suicide.
According to Bouchard, the 42-year-old suspected gunman had no prior criminal record and was residing with his mother, who was absent at the time. The individual was later identified as Michael William Nash.
A weapon was recovered at the scene of the shooting, Bouchard confirmed. A handgun was found beside the body, while a semiautomatic rifle was located on the kitchen table.
Bouchard mentioned on Saturday that Nash may have been planning a “second chapter” to the shooting.
“It’s heartbreaking … complete thoughts with the families right now,” expressed Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan K. Barnett.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer stated on X, “I am heartbroken to learn about the shooting in Rochester Hills. We are monitoring the situation as updates continue to come in and are in touch with local officials.”
During a press conference on Sunday morning, Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter remarked, “Yesterday’s horrific shooting of nine people, including two young boys, at a splash pad in Rochester Hills is just another appalling example of senseless violence. Unfortunately in my five years as a county executive, this is now my second mass shooting. We’re getting all too good at this and I’m disgusted by it.”
Coulter urged anyone traumatized or affected by this event to contact the Oakland County Health Network for assistance.
