Witness: Something very wrong going on

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) - There was a lot of panic inside the Best Western Hospitality Inn in Kalamazoo the night of Jan. 24.
 
"I realized that there was something very wrong going on," said Jay Gorham who was staying at the hotel for his daughter's skating competition. "I told my daughter who was in the room with me to get down on the floor."
 
Gorham and his daughter had just returned to their room after a late dinner around 10 p.m. when they heard gunshots nearby..
 
"There were three," he said.
 
Vicky Hays was also staying at the hotel for the competition.
 
"We heard three gunshots and a lot of yelling," she said.
 
The girls and parents from Hays' group were in different rooms socializing at the time.
 
"We were fearful we didn't have a good head count of people," Hays said. "We didn't you know have a good tally of where our girls were."
 
Hays quickly called 911 and located her daughter. Everyone was told to lock their doors.
 
Gorham was watching police from the window inside his room.
 
"The police were coming in with arms drawn," he said. "They had their assault weapons out in aim so I knew something was active and going on. I was able to count 22 cars I think there were two or three ambulances."

There was a confrontation between officers and 34-year-old Jacob Grassley who was not armed and shot. He later died at a hospital.

Few details about the shooting have been released. "During that initial review of very preliminary information it appeared that our officers acted within policy and the legal constraints in which they are bound. However, we are committed to a thorough and objective investigative process," Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Chief Jeff Hadley said.