Police have arrested the 19-year-old young man who is the suspect in the June 21 shooting at Claude Evans Park.
The BCPD Gang Suppression Unit and Detective Bureau got information that the suspect was in the Lansing area, and worked with Lansing-area law enforcement agencies to find him. Wednesday evening, June 28, Michigan State Police and the Lansing Police Department’s Violent Crime Initiative Team made a traffic stop that led to the suspect’s arrest.
Police also obtained a search warrant to search the suspect’s Lansing residence.
The BCPD returned the suspect to Battle Creek; he is in the Calhoun County Jail for several outstanding warrants related to the park shooting.
Anyone in the community who was in or near the park during this time, and may have information that would help police should please call 911, or contact police anonymously through Silent Observer at 269-964-3888.
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At about 8 p.m. June 21, officers from the city’s Gang Suppression Unit were on routine patrol in the area of Claude Evans Park, off North Washington Avenue. As they pulled up, officers saw a large crowd, and multiple people running away from the area of the basketball courts. Several people directed officers to the courts, where they thought a fight was happening.
As officers responded to the fight, someone ran past the officers, saying people had guns. Officers heard several shots fired, and saw a man pointing a handgun at other individuals in the park. He fired several rounds at those people.
To try and stop the suspect, one officer fired their duty weapon at him. The suspect was able to get in a black Buick SUV and leave the area.