FBI, ATF boost reward in Michigan freeway shootings to $102,000
A reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a suspect in the Interstate 96 corridor shootings has been increased to $102,000, the FBI and AFT officials said Monday.
Police have released this sketch of the shooting suspect.
AP photo
The FBI and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are each contributing $50,000 to the reward. Crime Stoppers is providing $2,000.
The reward was announced at a media briefing Monday afternoon at which officials also announced the devotion of more resources to a task force trying to identify the person responsible for at least 24 shootings in several counties. The briefing was live-streamed on Detroit television station WXYZ.
Police are investigating a total of 24 shootings on I-96 during October, according to the Detroit Free Press. Two shootings took place on Saturday, when one person was injured. That shooting took place near Fowlerville.
Monday morning, police investigated what at first was thought to have possibly been a 25th shooting. A woman driving south on U.S. 23 north of Interstate 96 noticed a hole in the window of her car and called 911. Police shut down part of I-96 and questioned motorists but later said they did not believe the incident was a shooting. Instead, they said some kind of projectile was believed to have caused the hole.
Police have released a sketch of a suspect in the series of shootings. They said it was based on a description from a witness to a shooting Oct. 18 in Ingham County. The witness discribed the suspect’s vehicle as resembling a dark 1998 Oldsmobile Alero or a 1998 Toyota Camry.
Police ask anyone with information that may be related to the shootings to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAKUP.
Cindy Heflin is associate news director at AnnArbor.com. Contact her at 734-623-2572 or cindyheflin@annarbor.com or follow her on Twitter.
Comments
bunnyabbot
Tue, Oct 30, 2012 : 2:42 p.m.
it would be helpful in these instances if one could actually enlarge the sketch instead of looking at a postage stamp size of it.
justcurious
Mon, Oct 29, 2012 : 9:50 p.m.
This sketch has been published for a couple of days now. Good to see the FBI and ATF are involved now. It is being taken seriously. Also, it's good to see the reward has been increased...by a lot.
PineyWoodsGuy
Mon, Oct 29, 2012 : 9 p.m.
Sketch posted. Does MSP have an Eye Witness? Or is the sketch based upon an amalgam of descriptions phoned-in by tipsters? Is there a computer program that can generate a sketch provided by dozens of tipster? If not, then MSP has an Eye Witness. Note the prominent lower jaw. A know a couple of dudes with that style of jaw.
Cindy Heflin
Mon, Oct 29, 2012 : 9:31 p.m.
Police said the sketch was based on a description from a witness to a shooting Oct. 18 in Ingham County. I've added that information to the above article.
northside
Mon, Oct 29, 2012 : 8:39 p.m.
Livingston County is home to a lot of gun-carrying NRA members, right? Aren't they always telling us that the presence of armed citizens will deter crimes like this?
Honest Abe
Tue, Oct 30, 2012 : 2:43 a.m.
@northside- You just don't get it. Oh, there is no 'common justification' required, needed or explanation due in order to conceal a firearm. It is my right, and the government has no say, whether I carry a weapon or not, as long as I have a clean background. Your original comment has nothing to do with what is going on. You come off as someone who is anti-firearm and against the 2nd amendment, and that, I have a problem with.
Angry Moderate
Mon, Oct 29, 2012 : 11:32 p.m.
Could you name a single person who has ever claimed that responsible gun owners stop ALL crime? Thanks!
northside
Mon, Oct 29, 2012 : 9:55 p.m.
@ Abe & Just: No, my post is not blaming this situation on gun ownership. What I'm doing is raising questions about a common justification for conceal and carry, that the presence of large numbers of responsible gun owners will reduce crime. If that was the case, wouldn't this shooter avoid a place like Livingston County?
Honest Abe
Mon, Oct 29, 2012 : 9:49 p.m.
@justcurious - EXACTLY.
justcurious
Mon, Oct 29, 2012 : 9:48 p.m.
It doesn't make any sense at all to link this situation to gun ownership. Think about it.
Honest Abe
Mon, Oct 29, 2012 : 9:16 p.m.
SO what if there are gun carrying, NRA members in Livingston county!? Just so you know, you do not need to carry a gun to be a member and you do not need to be a member to carry a gun! Kinda hard to deter crimes when this guy is probably in his car, maybe in motion. I am an NRA member, proudly, I also have a CCW. But even if I cam e up on this guy, does not mean I can just begin firing either. Perhaps gaining knowledge of firearms, firearm safety, and firearm laws would educate you, instead of your wise crack at our 2nd amendment rights, by mocking it, as if we use things like this as justification to carry and own firearms. When it comes down to it, we DON'T NEED a reason or excuse to carry/bear firearms....it's not a privilege, IT IS A RIGHT! You seem like you're against firearms. If you are, you are against my rights!