Rochester Hills, Michigan – A splash pad in Rochester Hills turned into a scene of chaos when a gunman opened fire, injuring as many as ten people on a Saturday afternoon. Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard described the shooting as a random act of violence, with the perpetrator firing 28 gunshots from a handgun at the streetside park around 5 p.m.
The incident took place at the Brooklands Plaza Splash Pad on East Auburn Road, according to statements from the Rochester Police Department and Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. The shooter arrived at the water park, unleashed gunfire from a 9mm Glock semi-automatic handgun, reloaded twice, and left behind three bullet magazines at the scene.
Law enforcement later recovered the handgun and magazines at the site. Sheriff Bouchard addressed the media near the park, confirming that there were between nine and ten victims of the shooting. The suspect was contained in a residence half a mile away from the park, prompting the assembly of a SWAT team.
The tragedy struck Oakland County months after a deadly mass shooting at Oxford High School in November 2021. This latest incident adds to the series of tragedies experienced by the community, leaving many grappling with the impact of such violence.
Police presence increased in neighboring Shelby Township as a precautionary measure following the Rochester Hills shooting. Authorities initially reported five or six victims, but the number could not confirm whether there were any fatalities. An emergency alert urged residents in Rochester Hills to avoid the area near Spencer Park and seek shelter.
The investigation into the shooting at the splash pad is being led by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, given their role in providing police coverage in Rochester Hills. The area surrounding the city-run splash pad was closed off to traffic by law enforcement and emergency responders, with ongoing efforts to gather more information about the victims and the circumstances of the incident. This developing story will be updated as more details become available.