A distressing incident unfolded near Detroit on Saturday evening as ten individuals, including children, sustained gunshot wounds at a city-operated water park. Authorities described the shooting as a random act of gunfire, with the suspect still at large as of late Saturday. However, police indicated they believed the individual was confined to a nearby residence, with the firearm recovered at the scene.
According to Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard, the assailant exited a vehicle in front of the Brooklands Plaza Splash Pad park in Rochester Hills, Michigan, and proceeded to discharge approximately 30 rounds from a 9mm semiautomatic Glock. The shooter reportedly reloaded multiple times during the incident. At the time of the press conference, it remained uncertain whether there were any fatalities, although initial reports from police had indicated five individuals were shot.
Rochester Hills, situated approximately 30 miles (50 km) north of Detroit, found itself at the center of this distressing episode. The nearby community of Oxford Township, also located in Oakland County, had been scarred by a mass school shooting in 2021, adding to the collective trauma experienced by the region. Oakland County Sheriff Bouchard expressed the community's profound sense of shock and grief, particularly in light of recent tragedies, including the devastating events at Oxford High School.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer conveyed her profound sorrow regarding the incident, emphasizing the heartbreak felt upon learning of the shooting in Rochester Hills. The situation underscores the ongoing challenges and tragedies faced by communities grappling with the impact of gun violence.
