A Saturday night hangout at Hartfield Lanes turned tense when masked suspects opened fire on a 17-year-old’s car in downtown Berkley, striking the rear driver’s-side door as the teen tried to get away from a gathering in the parking lot. Police say no one was hurt, the attack appears to have been targeted, and they want to hear from anyone who saw it or caught it on camera.
What the police say
The Berkley Department of Public Safety responded shortly before 11 p.m. to reports of shots fired near 12 Mile and Buckingham and was later contacted by a family whose vehicle had been hit in the parking lot at 3490 W. 12 Mile, according to a statement republished by Oakland County Times. Investigators say several suspects wearing masks walked up to a group in the lot, and as people started to leave, one gunman fired a single round that struck the teen’s car in the rear driver’s-side door.
Suspect vehicles and tips
Berkley Public Safety told FOX 2 Detroit that witnesses reported the suspects taking off south on Royal Avenue in multiple vehicles. The cars were described as a white or gray mid-size Chevy similar to a Malibu and a dark-colored Jeep that may have been maroon or red.
Investigators are asking anyone with video from around 11:45 p.m. or who witnessed the incident to call dispatch at 248-658-3380, contact detectives at 248-658-3390, or email footage to [email protected].
Local context
The shooting happened outside Hartfield Lanes, a longtime bowling fixture that helps anchor Berkley’s downtown nightlife, and comes as the city continues local work around gun safety, including a permanent gun buyback program that launched last year. Residents and city officials alike say quick video and witness tips are often what crack these fast-moving cases.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Berkley Public Safety Detectives at 248-658-3390 or send video evidence to [email protected], and to call 9-1-1 right away if they see suspicious activity. As of yesterday, there have been no arrests and the investigation remains active, according to police.
