ROCHESTER HILLS, MI – A serene Saturday afternoon turned into chaos when a gunman opened fire at a splash pad in Rochester Hills, leaving as many as ten people injured. The incident occurred around 5 p.m. at the Brooklands Plaza Splash Pad, located at 1585 E. Auburn Road. According to Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard, the shooter exited a vehicle and discharged 28 rounds from a 9mm Glock semi-automatic handgun.
Witnesses described a scene of panic as families and children scrambled for cover. The gunman reportedly reloaded his weapon twice, leaving three bullet magazines at the scene. Authorities later recovered the firearm and the magazines. Sheriff Bouchard, addressing the media near the site at 7:30 p.m., confirmed the number of victims but noted the exact count was still uncertain.
In a swift response, law enforcement managed to contain the suspect in a residence approximately half a mile from the park. A SWAT team was promptly assembled to handle the situation. “It’s a gut punch for us here in Oakland County,” Bouchard remarked, drawing parallels to the tragic mass shooting at Oxford High School in November 2021. “We’ve faced so many tragedies that it’s hard to fully grasp the magnitude of this one.”
Stephen Huber, a spokesperson for the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, provided initial details, confirming that at least five individuals had been shot. However, he could not confirm if there were any fatalities. “We don’t have a lot of information yet,” Huber stated. “It’s five shot and maybe six.”
An emergency alert was issued by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office on Saturday evening, warning residents of an active shooter near Spencer Park and advising them to avoid the area and seek shelter. The splash pad, situated between a T-Mobile store and a pizzeria, became the focal point of a massive police and emergency response, leading to the closure of nearby streets.
As the investigation continues, the community remains on edge, grappling with the uncertainty and fear that such a violent act brings. The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation, given its jurisdiction over Rochester Hills. The whereabouts of the shooter were still unclear as of 6:45 p.m., leaving many questions unanswered.