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Police: Michigan father kills wife, 6-year-old daughter in apparent murder-suicide

Authorities investigate a deadly shooting in Portage, Aug. 31, 2022. (WOOD-TV)

PORTAGE, Mich. – Police have identified the victims of a murder-suicide in West Michigan.

Police in Portage, Michigan, just outside of Kalamazoo, say a man shot his wife and six-year-old daughter at their home on Tuesday night.

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The family was identified as Henry Bates, 39, Brianna Bates, 31, and their 6-year-old daughter, Zenzia Bates, according to WOOD-TV. Police said there were three other children in the home that fled the scene when the shootings happened, aged 3, 11 and 13.

Police responded to the shooting at an apartment complex on Milham Avenue near Sprinkle Road after reports came in around 9:20 p.m., WOOD-TV reported. Police activated SWAT but got no response from inside the apartment. After two hours without response, officers entered the home and found the victims.

WOOD-TV reports the father, Henry Bates, had a history of domestic violence charges, with cases in 2004 and twice in 2022.

Related: Michigan man charged in murder of his 3 kids, wife, tried to kill himself; Mugshot disturbing


About the Author
Ken Haddad headshot

Ken Haddad has proudly been with WDIV/ClickOnDetroit since 2013. He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters, and helps lead the WDIV Insider team. He's a big sports fan and is constantly sipping Lions Kool-Aid.

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