Less than 12 Hours after Shooting, Royal Oak Murder Suspect Captured
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Oct. 26, 2015)
A 28-year-old Madison Heights man is dead, and a suspect is in custody after an early morning shooting in Royal Oak near 13 Mile and Rochester Road.
Little is known about what led up to murder, as the investigation is ongoing. But what is known is that a swift and collaborative effort led to the securing of the neighborhood, tracking of the suspect and ultimately his arrest in Garden City less than 12 hours after the crime was called in.
At 1:33 am on Monday, Oct. 26, 2015, Beaumont Hospital notified police that a man had arrived with multiple gunshot wounds.
The man died later that morning. However based on their initial investigation, police responded to the 2800 block of Fern in Royal Oak, with the SWAT team, to surround the home and secure the neighborhood. Officers from multiple cities train together for just such incidents, so they can work effectively together in high stress, dangerous situations.
In this case, they were unsure if the shooter was still in the home, in the area, or if he’d fled elsewhere. According to witnesses, they moved into the area quietly, with an armored vehicle for both protection and central communication, and vehicles positioned strategically for several blocks. Men in dark outfits and bulletproof vests did searches of the area, and some neighbors say they were told to stay inside when their curiosity was piqued.
By dawn police were confident that the shooter was long gone. Two blocks east the Community Education programs continued at Churchill Center, and students still walked to Addams Elementary just a few blocks north on 13 Mile. Police tape kept pedestrians and drivers from getting too close though.
Royal Oak Mayor Jim Ellison spoke to reporters after the sun came up. He did not have much information, only that a man had been shot. He reassured the public and asked them to “have faith in our police department” while they worked.
Lt. David Clemens also spoke to reporters later in the morning, announcing that the victim had died. He added that a dog had been removed from the home to prevent it from damaging the crime scene, and gave only vague remarks as to his belief that residents in the area were not in any danger. Further comment might impact the ongoing investigation, he said.
While forensic experts from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department collected evidence at the Fern Street home, Royal Oak Police worked with the City of Troy Special Investigations Unit, the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force, the DEA and the Garden City Police Department to find the suspected shooter. According to a statement released by Clemens, the suspect was arrested in the 6100 block of Henry Ruff in Garden City at 1pm.
Police have not yet released the identity of the victim, as his family had not yet been notified. Nor has the suspect’s name been released since he has not yet been arraigned.
Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to call Lt. David Clemens at (248) 246-3456.
This is the Earlier this month a woman was shot to death in her home on Altadena in Royal Oak, making Monday’s shooting the second murder this year in the city. Read more about that shooting at https://oaklandcounty115.com/2015/10/23/preliminary-exam-delayed-in-royal-oak-murder-case/.
This story will be updated as more info becomes available.
Previous stories:
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2015/10/26/victim-in-royal-oak-shooting-dies-suspect-still-at-large/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2015/10/26/swat-team-responds-to-shooting-in-royal-oak/
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