1 killed, 1 beaten at activity center

ANTWERP TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - Michigan State Police are investigating a deadly shooting at a hall in Van Buren County.

Authorities were called around 1:45 a.m. Sunday to the Antwerp Township Hall, 24821 Front Ave.

MSP told 24 Hour News 8 that a 27-year-old man was fatally shot following some type of altercation during an event at the activity center near Mattawan. Riccardo Parker from Kalamazoo was pronounced dead at the scene.

Parker was shot once in the chest, though police think several shots were fired.

Another man -- a 29-year-old from Battle Creek -- was critically beaten, police said, and taken to a hospital. Though in a medically-induced coma, he is expected to recover. Police will not say what, if any, relationship he had to Parker.

When police arrived, it was a "chaotic" scene, MSP said. There were liquor bottles strewn all over the building and there was a large amount of blood near where Parker was shot and killed.

Police think the beating happened after the shooting.

Michigan State Police and Mattawan police spent Sunday morning with the Michigan State Police Crime Lab gathering evidence from the scene.

The activity center, which had been rented out by an independent group, was hosting an open invitation party at the time of the crimes, according to Michigan State Police. They said many of the guests at the party were Kalamazoo residents. A flyer for the event titled "Black Elegance" advertised for college students 18 and up.

Authorities told 24 Hour News 8 no one is in custody and there are no suspects.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the MSP Paw Paw Post at 269.657.5551.

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The Michigan Department of Corrections website shows Parker was arrested for fleeing police in 2004 and 2007, and for drug charges in 2003, 2004 and 2005.