ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. — Authorities on Sunday identified the man who opened fire at a splash pad in suburban Detroit before taking his own life, but his motives remained unknown as investigators worked to determine whether he left behind any evidence of his plans.
Oakland County Sheriff’s spokesman Stephen Huber said the shooter was 42-year-old Michael William Nash of Shelby Township. Sheriff Mike Bouchard said Saturday night that the shooter had no criminal history but apparently suffered privately from what the sheriff called “mental health challenges.”
“We understand he was experiencing some mental health issues, but no one we know was notified,” Bouchard said during an evening news conference.
Authorities said Nash drove to suburban Rochester Hills on Saturday and opened fire at a splash pad in a city park around 5 p.m. A splash pad is a recreational area with a non-slip surface where people can play in fountains and water jets.
The sheriff said Nash fired up to 28 rounds, stopping several times to reload.
In the chaos, “people were falling, getting hit, trying to run away,” Bouchard said. “Terrible things that, unfortunately, all of us in our branch of law enforcement have seen too much of.”
The shooter “apparently was not in a hurry. He just calmly walked back to the car,” the sheriff said.
Nine people were injured, including an 8-year-old boy who was shot in the head; his 4-year-old brother, shot in the leg; and the boys’ mother, injured in the abdomen and leg.
The 8-year-old boy and his mother were in critical condition Saturday night. The 4-year-old was in stable condition. The other six victims, all at least 30 years old, were in stable condition Saturday night. Huber, the sheriff’s spokesman, said the conditions of all victims remained unchanged as of Sunday morning.
Nash eventually fled, but apparently left his gun behind. Investigators were able to use gun registration information to track him to the Shelby Township home he shared with his mother. When police arrived, they found a car that matched the shooter’s vehicle.
Officers surrounded the home and eventually entered to discover the suspect was dead. Bouchard said the man died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Officers discovered a gun next to the body and a semi-automatic rifle on the kitchen table. Bouchard said Saturday that Nash may be planning a “second chapter” of the shooting.
See more information: You can view the CDC’s guidance on suicide prevention, here.
Nash’s neighbors told the Detroit News that Nash’s father died two years ago and he lived with his mother, who was traveling around the United States.
“He is a loner. The curtains are always closed there,” neighbor Kyleen Duchene told the newspaper.
Nash’s mother was “super friendly and nice,” but Nash himself rarely left the house, said neighbor Alex Roser.
“And when he did, he didn’t even say ‘hi’ to us when we would have recognized him,” Roser said. “He was very quiet and didn’t want to be part of our community.”
Bouchard said Nash had no connections to the splash pad or any of the victims. Investigators will try to determine if he left any writings and will examine his electronic devices in hopes of clarifying his motive.
“In terms of the ‘why,’ I don’t know,” Bouchard said.
Rochester Hills is about 15 miles south of Oxford, where in 2021 a 15-year-old fatally shot four high school students. Saturday’s shooting occurred at the end of the first full week of summer vacation for Rochester Community Schools students.
“I love my community and my heart is broken today,” said Rochester Mayor Bryan Barnett. “When I arrived at the scene I started crying because I know what a splash pad should be. It’s supposed to be a place where people come together, where families make memories, where people have fun.”
Bouchard called the attack “a punch in the gut” for the county.
“We’ve been through so many tragedies,” the sheriff said. “We are not even fully understanding what happened in Oxford. And, you know, now we have another complete tragedy that we’re dealing with.”
If you or someone you know may be experiencing a mental health crisis or thinking about suicide, call or text 988. In emergencies, call 911 or seek care at a local hospital or mental health professional.
This story originally appeared on Time.com read the full story
