Homeowner shoots teen in unruly group

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) - A man whose home he says was damaged by a group of teenagers shot a gun at the group, hitting a 17-year-old with a bullet, according to police.

It was around 7 p.m. Tuesday when officers were called to the 1000 block of N. Church Street after the large group gathered in the area and gunshots were being fired.

When officers arrived and cleared the crowd no victims or witnesses came forward to report a crime.

A short time later dispatchers received a report of gunshots being fired into a nearby residence during the incident. Officers contacted a resident and learned a window in the home had been broken by a thrown object rather than gunfire.

As officers investigated the damage to the window a 17-year-old Kalamazoo male contacted officers to report that he had been shot during this incident. The victim told police he ran home after a man began firing a gun toward a group the teen was standing with.

The teen said he felt something strike him but didn't realize a bullet had hit him until he arrived home. A ricocheting bullet that penetrated his shirt and pants but not his body struck him.

Officers recovered the bullet but not the weapon used.

An investigation led to a 27-year-old man who told police it was his home that was damaged by the thrown object and he was the one who fired a semi-automatic handgun at a group of teens, striking one of them.

The man was arrested for assault with intent to commit murder. He was taken to the Kalamazoo County Jail pending review of this incident by the prosecutor's office.

Police would like to hear from you if you know more about this incident. So call police at (269) 337-8994 or Silent Observer at (269) 343-2100.