DELTA TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A mid-April shooting that the Eaton County Sheriff’s Office originally deemed a murder-suicide is now considered a murder investigation.
At about 11 p.m. on April 13, deputies responded to a shooting on Old River Trail, where they discovered a man and a 5-year-old girl who were deceased, and a 3-year-old boy suffering from gunshot wounds.
The boy was rushed to the hospital where he ultimately died from his injuries on the night of April 14.
Upon initial investigation, the sheriff’s office declared the incident as a murder-suicide. Police believed the man, identified as Joseph Lechleitner, 47, shot his children, Vivian Zwick, 5, and Anson Zwick, 3, before shooting and killing himself.
However, officials said Tuesday that after further investigation, all three individuals appear to have been murdered. The case is now considered a murder investigation.
Detectives say that they do not believe the shooting was a random act of violence. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Ted Johnson at 517-323-8492, or leave a tip at 517-543-5433.
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