DETROIT – Detroit police are now investigating three separate shootings on freeways that happened early Thursday morning.
State police said the victims do not appear to be connected, but similarities in the incidents suggest the suspect might be the same person.
First shooting
Michigan State Police said the first shooting occurred around 3 a.m. on eastbound I-94 near Harper Avenue. A 44-year-old man driving a red car was shot in the leg. He went to a nearby gas station for help. He has been released from the hospital and is expected to be OK.
There are at least two bullet holes in the victim's vehicle. State police said a shell casing was found on I-94.
Second shooting
- Westbound I-94 is back open at Conner Street -- check traffic map here
The second shooting happened between 3 and 3:30 a.m. on westbound I-96 near Davison. A vehicle was struck by a bullet, but the driver was not hit. The bullet hit one of the tires on the vehicle.
Westbound I-96 was shutdown at Joy Road until about 6 a.m. when it reopened to traffic.
Third shooting
Police said a third shooting was reported Thursday afternoon by a Detroit man whose vehicle was shot around the same time as the shooting on I-96 near Davison.
Police said the man's vehicle was shot near I-96 and Livernois Avenue. A bullet hole was found in the vehicle and the bullet was recovered, police said.
The man was not injured.
Police believe same shooter involved in 3 shootings
Michigan State Police officials said there doesn't appear to be a relationship between any of the victims, but the locations and timeline suggest the shooter is the same person.
A gray or silver sedan was seen at two of the three incidents.
State police are increasing their patrols on Detroit freeways as a precaution.
Anyone with information is asked to call Michigan State Police at 313-237-2450.
Police investigate possible connection
Police are trying to figure out if these shootings are connected. No arrests have been announced.
"We haven't had a freeway shooting for quite a while so to have two happen at the same -- we don't rule anything out. Everybody's a suspect until we rule you out. So that's kind of where we're at right now. It's right at the beginning stages," said Lt. Michael Shaw.
Detectives said it would be highly rare and coincidental to have three random shootings on freeways in the same morning, but state police tweeted later Thursday morning the incidents "appear to be unrelated."
Shooting Update:
— MSP Metro Detroit (@mspmetrodet) December 7, 2017
WB 94 is closed at Conner. 96 shooting scene is cleared with shell casing located on the freeway. Detectives looking for shell casings now on 94. Currently, these appear to be unrelated incidents. Victim from 94 shooting clear from the hospital. pic.twitter.com/gsmKEV1IHM
Victim goes to gas station for help
The victim who was shot in the leg on I-94 walked into a nearby gas station. A man working at the station was stunned by the victim's calm demeanor and couldn't believe he had been shot.
"I didn't believe it. He came in so calm and he told me, 'Can you call the cops?' I was like, 'For what?' and he said, 'I got shot.' I said, 'Can I see?' and he said, 'Yeah, sure,'" said Emad Alomari, a gas station employee.
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