Rochester Hills Splash Pad Shooting victims identified

On Saturday, June 15th, 2024, Micayla and Eric Coughlin from Rochester Hills took their two daughters, aged 2 years and 7 months, to the Brooklands Plaza Splash Pad to enjoy a day of beautiful weather.

Shortly after getting ice cream, they walked to the splash pad. Within less than a minute, Micayla and Eric heard gunfire. In a courageous effort to protect their children, they each grabbed one to shield them.

Micayla and Eric sustained seven gunshot wounds in total and are currently hospitalized, receiving necessary treatment. Thanks to their heroic actions, their children were unharmed and were able to go home that evening. Micayla and Eric now face a long and uncertain recovery from this unimaginable tragedy.

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard warned residents that some nefarious characters have created phony GoFundMe pages, claiming to benefit victims of Saturday’s splash pad shooting in Rochester Hills.

Bouchard said the Sheriff’s Office has not independently confirmed the authenticity of any charity or GoFundMe effort collecting donations to support the nine victims of Saturday’s shooting.

“These bottom-feeding scumbags are preying off this tragedy,” Bouchard said today. “They have already shown their character. We are unaware of any legitimate charity collecting donations for these families. I encourage anyone interested in donating to check with the Sheriff’s Office first. If there are legitimate sites, we will let the public know.”

One GoFundMe page is collecting funds on behalf of Kyle J. Thompson, his pregnant wife, and children, claiming to be victims of the shooting. Neither he nor his family were victims. More than $15,000 has been donated so far.

“The site is a complete fraud,” Bouchard said.

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard fears this might have been a wider attack, as the investigation suggests the shooter may have had other targets.

Thankfully, the nine people injured, including two young children aged 4 and 8, are expected to recover.

The suspect, identified as 42-year-old Michael Nash of Shelby Township, used a registered 9mm pistol during the shooting.

The weapon, found at the scene with three empty magazines, held the potential for nearly 30 rounds of ammunition. Sheriff Bouchard revealed that witness descriptions and a quick investigation into the firearm led deputies, SWAT teams, and negotiators to the suspect’s residence at the Dequindre Estates mobile home park within 45 minutes.

This swift response likely prevented further tragedy.

Officers found the suspect deceased inside the residence. He was lying next to a pistol, apparently used in a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Crucially, a high-powered rifle was also discovered on the kitchen table.

This indicates he may have possessed additional weapons and potentially planned further violence. The swift containment of this situation likely prevented further tragedy.

The standoff with the suspect ended tragically with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Though deputies hadn’t established two-way communication after arriving, they had observed him inside the residence during the standoff. The investigation is ongoing.

Authorities had no prior contact with the shooter, who lived with his mother at the residence. Mental health issues are a suspected factor in the shooting. The man’s mother was not home at the time but was notified later that night.

Sheriff Bouchard revealed they are actively investigating a potential paper or digital trail to understand the motive behind the attack on the splashpad in a neighboring city.

Sheriff Bouchard highlighted the effectiveness of the Live 911 system in the rapid response to the shooting. This system utilizes drones to investigate situations before dispatching officers. “Live 911 allows drone operators to create a virtual perimeter around a 911 call and respond even before it’s dispatched,” Bouchard explained. “This can provide eyes on the scene up to 20% faster than traditional methods, significantly improving response times in emergencies, as we saw here.

Eight of the nine victims were described as follows:

• An 8-year-old in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the head.
• A 4-year-old in stable condition with a wound to the thigh.
• A 39-year-old woman in critical condition with abdominal wounds.
• A 39-year-old woman in stable condition with wounds to the back and arm.
• A 30-year-old man in stable condition with a wound to the right leg.
• A 78-year-old man in stable condition with an abdominal wound.
• A 37-year-old woman in stable condition with a hand wound.
• A 40-year-old man in stable condition with a wound to the right knee.

The sheriff expressed his thoughts and prayers for the victims and their families and praised the response of his deputies. He mentioned that some employees have yet to return after the Oxford mass shooting in November 2021 and that peer-to-peer counseling is available.

Investigators are reviewing video evidence from the scene that captured the chaotic moments.