Trace Christenson

Battle Creek Enquirer

EMMETT TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Police are investigating the shooting deaths of a married couple, including a deputy with the Calhoun County Sheriff Department.

Police Chief Mike Olson said the bodies of a man and a woman were found in the back yard of a house in the first block of McAlister Road in Emmett Township, southwest of Battle Creek.

Olson said the bodies were discovered by a family member and reported to a 911 emergency dispatcher at 7:51 a.m. Sunday.

Both died from apparent gunshot wounds, Olson said. A handgun was found at the scene and Olson said the shootings "are possibly domestic related."

Sheriff Matt Saxton said in a prepared statement that the couple were married and the man had been a deputy with the department for 18 years.

The names have not been released pending positive identification and notification of family, some of whom are overseas, Olson said.

Saxton said the department is offering employees assistance to cope with the loss.

"As an organization, the Sheriff's Office is greatly saddened for the family and will do everything we can to assist after this tragedy," he said.

Emmett Township police were assisted at the scene by the City of Battle Creek Crime Lab, the Calhoun County Sheriff Department, the Calhoun County Prosecutor's Office and the Calhoun County Medical Examiners Office.

Detectives were obtaining a search warrant for the home and were expecting to conduct some interviews as part of the death investigation.

Autopsies are scheduled Monday at the Western Michigan University Homer Stryker MD School of Medicine.

Contact Trace Christenson at 966-0685 or tchrist@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on Twitter: @TSChristenson.

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