DETROIT – A pregnant woman is in critical condition, and three others are injured after a random shooting on Detroit’s east side.
The shooting occurred on Monday (July 15) at 8:57 p.m. at a gas station at Gratiot Avenue and Van Dyke, when the man in his 60s walked into a gas station, agitated by some situation, stating that he had people following him.
Police say the man was agitated and had a gun in his car. Officials said they got to the scene in two minutes, but the chaos had already puseud.
“You never think it’s going hit close, but stuff is happening every day,” said Stan Reeder.
The fact that three people got shot at the gas station is horrible news for Reeder, who lives nearby.
“I mean, when is the violence gonna stop as kids or anything could have been out there,” Reeder said.
Detroit police Chief James White with the Detroit Police Department says the man has been arrested, and they believe he was going through a mental health crisis and randomly decided to shoot strangers at the gas station.
“The man exits the station and walks back to his vehicle when random citizens pull in, and he fires indiscriminately nine times, striking three people,” said White. “We know four people are injured, which we can confirm at this time that three are confirmed shot.”
White said he could be heard saying he was tired of kids and people following him.
“He just had random conversation about how he was tired of kids and people following him,” White said. “Ultimately, he comes out and fires. As people are trying to enter the building, thank goodness additional people couldn’t get in as he waived them off when he was inside, or it could’ve been a lot more tragic than it is.”
Unfortunately, one of the people shot was the pregnant woman in her 20s who took a bullet to the face. She’s now in critical condition.
Community activist Tefori Brent says it’s a tragic situation for the entire area.
“It’s a devastating situation all the way around, and it breaks my heart because we have so much work to do,” said Brent. “But it seems like we don’t have enough time and enough good soldiers doing it. But we have to do a better job at identifying those that are suffering in our community.”
Police were able to take the man into custody without custody. Local 4 is waiting to see how charges will be filed for the man who, at the time of the shooting, had a medical bracelet on his arm.
Another woman who was injured but not shot is said to be expected to be ok.