ALMONT TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WXYZ) — Authorities in Lapeer County are investigating a fatal workplace shooting and an officer-involved shooting after police caught up with the suspect Wednesday morning.
The initial shooting happened around 8:20 a.m. in Almont at Trims Unlimited, which is on Van Dyke Road north of Dryden Road.
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Investigators say a 32-year-old man from Columbus, Michigan shot a worker.
“It is my understanding that there was one round," Almont Police Chief Daniel Willis said. “People that were present said they only heard one loud bang.”
Willis says officers performed CPR on the victim, a 30-year-old man, before he was rushed to a local hospital, where he later died.
“It’s devastating. It’s just senseless,” said Patrick McManus, who owns Reliable Compactor Service across the street from Trims Unlimited. “My shop manager and a couple of my people worked with that man quite a bit. We did some work on their press over there and worked pretty closely with him, so my shop manager is pretty upset.”
The suspect fled the scene immediately after the shooting, but workers at Trims gave 911 dispatchers a description of his car.
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“Imlay City Police Department officers located that suspect vehicle on I-69 and began a pursuit,” Michigan State Police Lt. Kim Vetter said.
Lapeer County sheriff’s deputies and Michigan State Police joined in soon after. Deputies caught up with the suspect in Metamora Township — about 16 miles from the shooting in Almont.
“The suspect stopped his vehicle here on Sutton Road near Wilder Road and engaged with the deputies. Two deputies responded by firing their issued weapons and the suspect was shot,” Vetter said.
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MSP is investigating that shooting. The suspect was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he’s in stable condition.
People who live nearby are stunned.
“Things are getting crazy,” Metamora Township resident Amy Hagen said. “A lot of things have been happening like everywhere. You wouldn’t expect like in the middle of nowhere. We’re all by a horse farm.”
It’s unclear what led up to the shooting at Trims Unlimited and what connection the suspect had to it.
“He was a known subject, so identification was immediate,” Willis said. “This was not random. This was a targeted attack or appears to be.” Five police vehicles crashed during that pursuit of the suspect. No officers were hurt.
The two deputies who shot the suspect are on administrative leave.
