A 21-year-old man is in custody after what officials called a critical incident in northeast Ottawa County yesterday, when a domestic dispute escalated into gunfire and a brief manhunt that ended across the county line in Muskegon. Three people were removed from the home, and one was treated for minor injuries. Deputies say a shot was fired inside the house before the suspect took off and was later arrested in neighboring Muskegon County. Inside the home at the time were a pregnant woman, another adult, and an 18-month-old child, according to authorities.
What deputies found
Ottawa County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched around 4:37 p.m. to the 4700 block of Sherman Boulevard in Chester Township for a reported domestic assault and arrived to find a man armed with a long gun and evidence that a shot had been fired, as reported by MLive. Inside the residence were a 22-year-old pregnant woman, an 18-month-old child, and a 59-year-old woman, one of whom was later treated for non-life-threatening injuries. The Ottawa County Sheriff's Office labeled the situation a critical incident and called in its Critical Response Team.
Response and arrest
Members of the sheriff's Critical Response Team, Muskegon County deputies, state police troopers and local fire crews converged on the property and evacuated the occupants roughly an hour and a half after deputies first arrived, according to 92.7 The Van. Nearby residents were told to shelter in place while officers searched the area. The suspect was later spotted running several miles from the scene and was taken into custody shortly after 8 p.m. by Muskegon County deputies without further incident.
Charges and next steps
The 21-year-old suspect was booked into the Ottawa County Jail and is expected to face domestic-assault and firearms charges; formal filings and an arraignment in 58th District Court are still pending, county deputies said, per MLive. Prosecutors will review the case file and evidence before making final charging decisions. No names have been released, and the investigation remains active.
Resources
Anyone affected by domestic violence in Michigan can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788 for confidential support and referrals, per the Michigan State Police. Authorities are asking anyone with information or video related to this incident to contact the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office, as reported by 92.7 The Van.
