Police seek suspect in shooting spree

Wixom police continue to investigate a series of shootings that occurred last week and a multi-jurisdictional task force has been set up after similar incidents were reported in other communities.

Five vehicles were shot at as they were heading north on Wixom Road from south of Pontiac Trail toward an area near Charms Road around 2:15 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 18, following a different shooting incident two days before.

The shootings on Thursday resulted in no injuries. There are no known suspects in the shootings, which occurred within a 2- to 3-minute time span.

The first shooting incident occurred on Tuesday, Oct. 16 when a pair of 911 callers reported that they heard gunshots in the area of North Wixom and Loon Lake roads around 7:15 p.m.

One of the callers said he thought he heard a bullet passing by his head as he was taking out trash. The other caller said he was driving north on North Wixom Road when a suspect vehicle passed by him traveling southbound, according to a Wixom Police Department press release.

That caller’s vehicle sustained damage to its front driver-side tire as a result of the shooting. It is believed that the suspect was shooting a pistol out the driver-side window of the vehicle.

While the make and model of the car is unknown, one witness described it as a dark sports car with blue-tinted headlamp covers — possibly a Ford Mustang.

No injuries were reported during the Oct. 16 incident.

A multi-jurisdictional task force was formed to investigate the recent shootings that have occurred in Oakland, Livingston, and Ingham counties.

The task force, commanded by the Wixom Police Department, is currently comprised of law enforcement personnel from the Wixom Police Department, Walled Lake Police Department, Oakland County Sheriff’s Department, Livingston County Sheriff’s Department, Ingham County Sheriff’s Department, the Michigan State Police, the Detroit & Southeast Michigan Information & Intelligence Center, and the Michigan Intelligence Operations Center.

There have been a total of 22 confirmed reports of similar random shooting across multiple jurisdictions, most occurring on Oct. 18, including two in commerce Township, one at Best Drive and West Maple and a second at Benstein and West Maple roads.

The taskforce is working to apprehend the suspect. A forensic sketch was drawn up to assist in identifying the suspect in the recent shootings around Wixom and in Ingham and Livingston counties.

The sketch was obtained after speaking with a witness of one of the Ingham County incidents that took place Oct. 18, when six cars were shot in the I-96/M-52 area, according to Wixom Public Safety Director Clarence Goodlein.

The witness described the suspect vehicle as resembling a dark colored, small coupe car such as a 1998 Toyota Camry or 1998 Oldsmobile Alero.

On Friday, Oct. 19, a Wixom police officer put out an all-points bulletin that he was in pursuit of a vehicle possibly matching the vehicle description involved in the recent shooting spree.

Walled Lake police officers joined in the pursuit near Maple and Benstein roads following an older gray Buick Riviera. It was traveling between 70 and 80 mph and running red lights through jurisdictions, according to a press release. The subject continued onto southbound M-5, increasing his speed to about 100 mph.

According to police reports, there was no traffic in the roadway; however, when the subject approached a Livonia exit, the officer discontinued the pursuit and last saw the subject merge onto I-275.

Citizens are encouraged to call 1-800-SPEAK UP if they have information regarding the suspect in the sketch or the suspect vehicles. Citizens are also encouraged to remain vigilant in reporting further suspicious activity.