Kalamazoo, MI: On Monday September 5, 2016 at approximately 9:00 p.m., Kalamazoo Public Safety responded to the area of 1500 Clinton to the report of two people shot in the alley. Officers arrived and found two people with gunshot wounds on the ground. The investigation, as well as an eyewitness account, confirmed that one person was shot by accident as a gun was being “played with” and the other person died from a self inflected gunshot.

The witness confirmed that both people knew each other and there was no argument or altercation prior to the weapon being discharged. Once the first person was shot and died at the scene, the shooter became “distraught” according to the witness, and then took his own life. The evidence found at the scene confirms this.

Public Safety was in no way involved in either shooting, only in the investigation after being called.

This is a very unfortunate incident and we remind people to be mindful and serious about the proper and legal handling of firearms. The firearm in this incident was not stolen, but it was also not properly registered.

This case continues to be investigated and more details will be released as we move forward in this investigation.

Anyone who may have information regarding this investigation is asked to call Kalamazoo Public Safety at 337-8994 or Silent Observer at 343-2100 or www.kalamazoosilentobserver.com.

By authority of: Victor Ledbetter, Captain.

Date: September 6, 2016

Address: 150 E. Crosstown Pkwy., Suite A, Kalamazoo, MI 49001

Contact: Victor Ledbetter, Captain Criminal Investigations Division (269)337-8139