close
close
Local

Rochester Hills splash pad shooting suspect identified by Oakland County Sheriff's Office

The suspected shooter who opened fire Saturday at the Brooklands Plaza Splash Pad in Rochester Hills has been identified by the Oakland County Sheriff's Office.

Michael William Nash, 42, allegedly threw 28 bullets at families, including children. He had previously been described by authorities as a man living with his mother. He has no criminal history, according to Bouchard, and has mental health problems.

Bouchard said nine people were injured, some in critical condition. And Nash, he said, was found in a Shelby Township home, dead from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Among the nine victims of the tragedy were an 8-year-old boy who was in critical condition with a head injury and a 4-year-old boy in stable condition with a thigh injury. A 39-year-old woman shot in the abdomen and leg was also in critical condition. The three were members of the same family.

The oldest victim was a 78-year-old man who was shot in the abdomen and is stable.

Shooting at the Rochester Hills splash pad: What we know about the victims, suspect

The Oakland County Sheriff's Office and other emergency responders surrounded a home in Shelby Township. near Hamlin and Dequindre roads, where they said an armed man was confined following a mass shooting at a Rochester Hills splash pad on Saturday, June 15, 2024.

Detectives are investigating Nash's motive, which Bouchard said had no connection to the victims. The shooting was described as “very random” and “bizarre.” A weapon, a Glock 9 mm, was found on site as well as three magazines.

Nash committed suicide after being “confined” in a Shelby Township home for several hours following the attack, Bouchard said. Bouchard said that after attempts to contact the suspect failed, drones were deployed to examine the home, where Nash was found dead.

Inside the house, on the kitchen table, was what looked like a semi-automatic rifle, Bouchard said. He suggested that Nash may have plans for a “second chapter.”

Authorities described the scene as chaotic: people were rushing, falling and being hit by bullets as they tried to run. The ice cream cones and flip flops were covered in blood.

As of 8 a.m. Sunday, Bouchard's department said there were no further updates on the tragedy.

Andrea Sahouri covers criminal justice for the Detroit Free Press. She can be contacted at 313-264-0442 or [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Suspect in Rochester Hills splash zone shooting identified

Related Articles

Back to top button