Police release photo of man said to be witness in I-96 corridor shooting

Posted on Fri, Nov 2, 2012 : 5:05 p.m.

Police release photo of man said to be witness in I-96 corridor shooting

By Kyle Feldscher

Police would like to speak to this man as a potential witness to a shooting on the I-96 corridor on Oct. 27.

Courtesy of Michigan State Police

The Michigan State Police released photos Friday of a man they described as a “potential witness” in the I-96 corridor shootings.

Police said he was seen on Saturday in Brighton and may have information related to the case. The photos were taken at the Mobil gas station in Brighton on Oct. 27, according to a police statement. The man reportedly is driving Chevrolet Malibu believed to be from model years 2008 through 2012, police said.

Police said the man they want to talk to is driving this car.

State police photo

There were two shootings on Saturday, both of which occurred on eastbound I-96 between M-52 (Stockbridge Road) and Fowlerville Road. A man was injured in one of the shootings. He is the only person who has been injured so far.

Police were pulling over black and dark-colored vehicles on US-23 south of I-96 earlier this week after a report of a possible shooting on US-23 in the Brighton area. Police later said there was no shooting and any people arrested during that time had outstanding warrants.

There have been 24 known shooting incidents that took place between Oct. 16 and Oct. 27. Most of them did not occur on the freeway, police said.

"It is believed the suspect has spent a considerable amount of time in, or is otherwise familiar with, the areas where the shootings occurred," police said in the release. "The suspect would have been unaccounted for at the times of the incidents and, if he did not have a legitimate reason to be in the affected areas, he may have fabricated stories regarding his activities during those time periods."

One of two photos of a potential witness released by a police task force investigating a string of 24 shootings.

There have been no arrests in the case and a reward of $102,000 is being offered to anyone who can provide information leading to the arrest of the suspect.

The suspect is described as a white man in his late 20s or early 30s, and has been described as clean-shaven, although police believe he may be changing his appearance. According to a police statement, the man is familiar with the areas where the shootings have occurred.

Police have received more than 2,200 tips related to the case. A police task force is investigating the shootings, which have taken place in Ingham, Livingston, Oakland and Shiawassee counties.

Police said Thursday they will increase their presence along I-96 Saturday to reassure the thousands of motorists expected to travel along Interstate 96 to Michigan State University’s home football game against Nebraska. The extra patrols will run roughly from the Livingston County line to U.S. 127, Ingham County Sheriff Gene Wriggelsworth said at the press conference.

One person has been injured so far in the shootings.

Anyone with information on the shootings is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800 SPEAK UP (773-2587).

Click on the markers in the interactive map below to see when, where and how many shootings occurred at each location.

View I-96 Corridor Shootings in a full screen map

Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.

Comments

Tlmk75

Sat, Nov 3, 2012 : 6:06 p.m.

Just saw on wxyz that this man came forward and assisted the police with the investigation. They're not saying who he is or what he has told them!

Tlmk75

Sat, Nov 3, 2012 : 3:09 p.m.

You would think in 2012 they would have better surveillance photos! Even though it's blurry, it does resemble the sketch and he does drive a dark colored car! Sounds like they may be on to something! Hopefully this is the guy and they can finally find him and put him behind bars! One thing I don't understand is why the police are telling the media their every move. I'm sure this guy is reading everything and now may move on to another area to start shooting! Somebody knows this guy and hopefully they will do the right thing!

actionjackson

Sat, Nov 3, 2012 : 1:38 p.m.

Do the police have any information about the lettering printed on the shirt? That would surely be a help.

Jack

Mon, Nov 5, 2012 : 7:27 a.m.

TruBlue - Read actionjackson's comment below yours and you'll see what's wrong with your statement. Do you really think he'd wear that shirt at all if it's distinctive seeing as it's been in the papers? Or, if it's really generic, that he wouldn't? Please lighten up on the cloak and dagger.

actionjackson

Sat, Nov 3, 2012 : 7:11 p.m.

True, could be his place of business. Someone might have known him from the shirt printing.

Tru2Blu76

Sat, Nov 3, 2012 : 3:10 p.m.

If the police know what was printed on the tee-shirt, how likely is it that they'd tell us? Is the perp, who reads everything we're reading, going to go on wearing the same shirt after it's been marked for notice?

Ron Granger

Sat, Nov 3, 2012 : 1:34 p.m.

Why don't we have any info on the caliber of the gun? Surely they must have some bullet hole data. As for the guy in the photo, I see guys who look just like that almost everywhere.

Tru2Blu76

Sat, Nov 3, 2012 : 3:02 p.m.

It might be the police don't want to increase the panic level; saying the shooter is in possession of a powerful pistol (one of the magnum calibers, etc) might do that. Or it might just be a detail they may want to keep to themselves for the time being. But I agree, determining caliber of the gun isn't all that hard - for those with the knowledge of how to do it. As for the photos, it's just one of the assets the police are trying to use to catch the shooter. They're blurry, so the lack of detail makes them less useful in terms of facial recognition. One key is to focus on the areas of the eyes. And remember: the police have now brought up two possible ways to catch this guy - one is to alert people that they might already know him & the other is to make his face familiar to the public. Overall, the police want to control the amount of information they release because the perp is also reading whatever we are reading.

northside

Sat, Nov 3, 2012 : 11:59 a.m.

@ Kyle: Any idea as to why police are referring to this guy as a "potential witness" when he clearly seems to be the suspect? I'm assuming there's some strategy behind this but, like others, don't know what that might be.

Kyle Feldscher

Mon, Nov 5, 2012 : 4:15 p.m.

northside- Sorry for the delay. I have no clue, honestly. I thought it was very bizarre for them to refer to him as a "potential witness" as well. However, it's possible the police would like to interview him because they believe he is a suspect but refer to him as a witness so they don't scare him off. I can only offer speculation, though.

Tru2Blu76

Sat, Nov 3, 2012 : 6:14 a.m.

"It is believed the suspect has spent a considerable amount of time in, or is otherwise familiar with, the areas where the shootings occurred," –– that and the next police statement may indicate that the shooter is either some kind of delivery driver or has a business which takes him through these areas (landscaping, lawn care, etc.) The easiest way around "accounting for his time" would be to have a job wherein he doesn't really have to account to family or friends for the times he's away. The area of the shootings (Brighton-Howell-Fowlerville) makes sense too: that being the notorious Right Wing Whacko Triangle - where righteous citizens shoot at every Obama sticker they see.. He may be protesting the dreaded Obamacare Death Panels that Sarah Palin warned him about - it's pretty close to Election Day so the timing is... you know... "appropriate." Whatever he does, I hope he doesn't give out any statements to the press because: they're sure to misquote, misspell and confuse any message he may have. (Reporters don't have time to fact-check, spell-check or research all the topics they cover and cannot afford paying a consultant to do it for them.) Shooting from a moving vehicle: indicates drivers should be alert to any car with the driver's window open (esp. in this cooler weather). It also raises the chance that the shooter will have signs of hearing damage - unless he's using a small caliber handgun, which doesn't look likely. Or unless he's wearing hearing protection which might make him much more noticeable. If he's shooting from a moving car at moving cars - he's probably an above average pistol marksman.

Sat, Nov 3, 2012 : 3:35 a.m.

I'm sure this guy's day was ruined.

Ricardo Queso

Sat, Nov 3, 2012 : 3:07 a.m.

You better run all day And run all night And keep your dirty feelings Deep inside. And if your Takin' your girlfriend Out tonight You better park the car Well out of sight 'Cos if they catch you in the back seat Trying to pick her locks They're gonna send you back to mother In a cardboard box You better run

Nicole B.

Sat, Nov 3, 2012 : 3:22 p.m.

This song is about fascist thugs persecuting people that are different.

PineyWoodsGuy

Sat, Nov 3, 2012 : 1:18 a.m.

@ Elouise. You nailed him. He is a loner psycho. The Very Most Difficult to catch!

Elouise

Sat, Nov 3, 2012 : 12:18 a.m.

As many shootings as there were, wouldn't there be a whole lot more potential "witnesses"? This guy wants to get caught but doesn't want to turn himself in. Not saying he's a victim by any means but this screams 'mental health issues'. And if so that doesn't make this behavior okay. I hope he gets the help he needs and it doesn't escalate.

JustinHale

Fri, Nov 2, 2012 : 11:55 p.m.

It absolutely makes no sense. He is wanted as a "potential witness" ? Are we speaking in code now? If he was wanted by the police for questioning that is what should be said, as that is normally how it is interpreted when police say WANTED FOR QUESTIONING..... It doesn't implicate the man, it simply means.. Yo dawg, we need to rap with you about this for a bit... Stupid Stupid Stupid.

JustinHale

Sat, Nov 3, 2012 : 8:22 p.m.

Shows how much I go to Grand Rapids. Misinformation on my part, maybe I should work for AA.com

JIll Tewsley

Sat, Nov 3, 2012 : 1:17 p.m.

Except that I-96 runs right through Grand Rapids.

JustinHale

Fri, Nov 2, 2012 : 11:56 p.m.

There has been so much misreporting of these situations by the media, I am surprised there hasn't been a statement made that its not I-96 area at all, but in fact in Grand Rapids! :|

stevek

Fri, Nov 2, 2012 : 9:56 p.m.

"Potential witness" = potential suspect

PineyWoodsGuy

Fri, Nov 2, 2012 : 9:41 p.m.

Be sure and check older men wearing baseball caps. It's the best method of covering-up being bald. And guys, when was the last time you bought a Yellow shirt? Based on his past shooting history, he probably is not a member of a shooting range.

Jack

Mon, Nov 5, 2012 : 7:21 a.m.

I'm really not certain that he is old. That second picture makes him look rather young. I wish aa.com had enlarged that second picture.

Ron Granger

Sat, Nov 3, 2012 : 1:31 p.m.

Yes, all older men wearing ballcaps must be stopped and checked out.

Nicole B.

Fri, Nov 2, 2012 : 10:48 p.m.

Probably not a Marine, either.

Paul Wiener

Fri, Nov 2, 2012 : 9:35 p.m.

This makes no sense.

Ron Granger

Sat, Nov 3, 2012 : 1:30 p.m.

"Sir, it doesn't need to make sense. Just put your hands on the car and spread your legs! NOW!"

HB11

Sat, Nov 3, 2012 : 11:58 a.m.

@Tesla, why call this person a potential witness when he is actually the potential suspect? THAT is what makes no sense.

Tesla

Fri, Nov 2, 2012 : 10:56 p.m.

It does if you're paying attention Paul. This is the suspect.