The Mecosta County sheriff described as “heartbreaking” a shooting that resulted in the deaths of a mother and her three young children, and stated that the emotional aftermath has been difficult for the community.
“To have something so tragic happen in your community, it’s very heartbreaking,” Mecosta County Sheriff Brian Miller said Saturday, May 28.
“There are no words that can explain what happened,” he said.
Friday at 2:30 p.m., Mecosta County sheriff’s deputies responded to the area of 185th Avenue near Johnson Road in Austin Township, south of Big Rapids, in response to a report of a man with a gun and shots fired.
At the residence, deputies discovered three young children and a woman shot to death, as well as a man with a gunshot wound to the head. All of the children were under 10 years old.
Miller confirmed on Saturday that the woman is the mother of the children and her husband. The evidence suggests that the man was responsible for the killing of the others, but he declined to provide specific information.
He stated that an investigation is underway.
“We’re not exactly sure what the circumstances were,” Miller said. “It’s tragic by all accounts.”
The man was initially transported to Spectrum Health Big Rapids Hospital, after which he was flown to Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids and then transferred to Michigan Medicine in Ann Arbor.
He stated that the local school district has been made aware and that crisis counseling is expected to be available.
Miller stated that deputies were dispatched to the scene following a 911 call from the residence. This person was outside the home and was not shot.
“How it happened, why it happened, is not the focus of this letter. The loss of a life is always difficult, but when that loss is tragic, and yes senseless, it is that much harder to deal with,” he wrote.
A candlelight vigil is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday, May 31, at the Morley Stanwood football field. The letter provided contact information for people who are grieving to receive support and assistance.
Additionally, Cole stated that counselors and trauma specialists will be accessible to students who return to school on Tuesday.
