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Scene of the structures on fire owned by the suicide victim.
GRANT TOWNSHIP — A shooting death in the Grant Township Cemetery Tuesday evening, April 1, was determined to be a suicide, according to Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole.
The death investigation followed a house fire at 10944 N. Darr Rd. in Free Soil Township Tuesday evening. It has also been determined that the home destroyed in the fire belonged to the suicide victim, and a burned up vehicle at the suicide scene was also owned by that person.
“On Tuesday, April 01, 2025 at 7:26 p.m., Free Soil Township and Grant Township fire departments were called to the 10000 block of North Darr Road, in Mason County’s Free Soil Township regarding a structure fire,” states Sheriff Cole in a press release issued Wednesday morning.
“Shortly thereafter, emergency crews were called to a vehicle fire a few miles away in a cemetery on Free Soil Road west of US 31 in Grant Township. Upon arrival to the vehicle fire, deputies discovered a body near the vehicle with a gunshot wound. The victim was deceased.
“The investigation revealed the home was owned by the victim of the gunshot wound, and the destroyed, burned vehicle was registered to the victim,” states Sheriff Cole. “A handgun was found next to the victim, and a preliminary investigation suggests the deceased died from a single gunshot wound to the head.
“It is not the practice of the Mason County Sheriff’s Office to release information involving suicides,” said Cole. “However, when those incidents take place in an area open to the public, for transparency’s sake and to reassure citizens of no threat to public safety, the MCSO is issuing a press release.
Free Soil/Meade Township Fire Chief Vince Williams said three fire marshals from the Michigan State Police responded to investigate. The marshals were awaiting search warrants.
Five fire departments responded to the fire that was initially called as a garage fire. When they arrived, the discovered a pole barn and a house — several feet apart — were both on fire. Free Soil/Meade Fire Department was assisted by Grant Township Fire Department, Fountain Area Fire Department, Stronach Fire Department, and Filer Township Fire Department.
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