Man, 43, arrested while chasing a Michigan sniper who fired at random cars in four counties in a two-week terror campaign
- Suspect arrested in Wixom, the Detroit suburb where the shootings began
- Targets in 24 incidents were primarily cars on roads near Interstate 96
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A man has been arrested on suspicion of being the sniper who shot indiscriminately at cars in four Michigan counties over a two-week period.
The 43-year-old suspect was taken into custody Monday night in Wixom, the Detroit suburb where the shooting began.
Ingham County Sheriff Gene Wriggelsworth called the attacks, which injured one person, “domestic terrorism.”
He said, “Why did he do that? I do not know. I don’t know if we’ll ever know.”
Artist’s rendering: Police arrested the 43-year-old man on suspicion of being the pictured sniper who shot indiscriminately at cars in four Michigan counties over a two-week period
Sheriff Wriggelsworth said a tip – one of nearly 3,000 that had been received – led authorities to the man’s home. What the suspect told the investigators, he did not want to reveal.
Police said the man was driving a vehicle that matched the description of the suspect’s car, provided by a victim of the shooting. Authorities also seized potential evidence at his home, detectives said.
At least one weapon was seized, said Donald Dawkins, spokesman for the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Detroit.
The man had not been charged as of last night and it was not clear when charges might be brought.
Local and federal authorities debated whether to pursue the case in state or federal court. Sheriff Wriggelsworth said he wanted federal prosecutors to take the case.
The shootings began on October 16 and spanned from Oakland County West to Ingham County.
The targets of the 24 reported incidents were primarily cars traveling on roads near Interstate 96. Only a handful of shootings actually occurred on the interstate.
Stalking Ground: The targets in the 24 reported incidents were primarily cars traveling on roads near Interstate 96 (pictured).
Janice Schumacher, 43, was pumping gas in Wixom when she heard a suspect was in custody.
“I hope that’s the guy,” said the Commerce Township resident, who has been using alternative routes to run personal errands and get her three children to and from school in recent weeks
“For weeks I have been unable to breathe when driving with my children. If they finally get this guy, that would be a huge relief.”
There seemed to be few clues before the arrest — slugs and bullet fragments embedded in cars, metal casings on streets, a simple black-and-white sketch of the shooter — a man believed to be in his late 20s or early 30s — and vague descriptions of the dark car he drove.
The crime scene where the shooting took place is 100 miles long, cutting through suburbs, malls and pastures.
Shootings took place during the day, night, weekdays and weekends. Police say the gunman was driving down streets and shooting at vehicles traveling in the opposite direction. Only one person was injured.
Initial reports of shootings triggered panic. Wixom schools restricted breaks and other activities that would take students outdoors. Motorists avoided main thoroughfares where they could be exposed and got stuck on side streets.
But the police have worked hard to keep calm. In Wixom – where ten shootings were reported – police had special Halloween patrols to protect trick-or-treating.
From Oakland County, northwest of Detroit, to Shiawassee County, northeast of Lansing, authorities stopped cars that resembled the shooter’s vehicle. A $102,000 reward has been offered.
“I’ve always felt safe here. But that was very shocking,” said Karen Adams, 51, who lives down the street from the suspect.
