1 dead, suspect in custody following Free Soil Township shooting.

1 dead, suspect in custody following Free Soil Township shooting.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.

FREE SOIL TOWNSHIP — One person has been detained following a double shooting that resulted in one death and one person hospitalized this morning, Tuesday, April 16, at a residence on US 31 between Hoague and Koenig roads.

Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole said Mason-Oceana 911 received a call at 6:54 a.m. by the female shooting victim inside the home in the 10000 block of US 31. “The caller was able to provide law enforcement valuable information as it related to the name of the shooter, his location in the house, and that there were small children also in the home,” Cole said.

“Law enforcement was able to quickly establish a perimeter around the house and evacuate one wounded female adult and two children,” Cole said. “The wounded adult was able to provide officers with additional information as it related to firearms and that one additional victim was reportedly deceased inside. The wounded also advised the alleged shooter was barricaded in a room.”

Cole said the deceased victim was male. He said at this time, out of respect of the victims’ families, names and ages will not be released. The female victim and children were transported by ambulance to Munson Health Manistee Hospital. He also added that he could not comment on the relationship of those involved but that they did know each other.

Cole said four Mason County deputies on duty were able to respond within 15 minutes to the scene, along with deputies from Manistee County Sheriff’s Office. They were later joined by troopers from Michigan State Police Hart Post and officers from Little River Band of Ottawa Indians tribal police and U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement. Additional support was given by Grant Township Fire Department, Free Soil/Meade Fire Department, and Life EMS.

The county’s tactical response team, which includes deputies from Mason County Sheriff’s Office, Oceana County Sheriff’s Office, and Ludington Police Department, responded. Tactical teams from MSP and Manistee County were also dispatched.

Cole said the suspect advised officers at 8:25 a.m. that he was coming out to give himself up.

“He was taken into custody without incident by deputies,” Cole said. “Deputies and troopers conducted a check of the residence and did fund an adult male deceased from gun shot wounds,” Cole added.

Cole said the MSP crime lab from Grayling has been dispatched to process the scene.

US 31 in that area has been closed since about 7:30 a.m.

Cole said detectives and deputies will remain on the scene investigating. A press conference is planned at the sheriff’s office later this morning and more details will be released.

Area schools were placed in a “soft” lockdown during the early portion of the incident.

“We were very lucky to have four deputies on duty during one shift,” Cole said. “A year ago this was not a reality, but thanks to the voters of Mason County, we have been able to add more deputies to our roster.”

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