Crime & Safety

UPDATED: Police Still Putting All Efforts Toward Finding I-96 Shooter

Earlier today, I-96 closed after an incident was reported on southbound U.S. 23 near Brighton. The road has reopened; the incident turned out to not be a shooting.

Note: This story is being updated throughout the day as news develops.

Monday, 4 p.m.

Representatives of the inter-agency task force working to find the I-96 gunman addressed the media, saying they won't stop until the person responsible for the shootings is identified and arrested.

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The reward for information leading to the arrest of the shooter is now $102,000, the task force reported.  

Authorities confirmed that the incident on US-23 Monday morning was caused by a projectile hitting a car — and not a bullet.

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Monday, 1:15 p.m.

Livingston County Sheriff Bob Bezotte says he is still waiting to hear confirmation from the state police who are investigating the scene, but says that the incident on US-23 may have been caused by a rock rather than a bullet. 

“Initially we thought it might have been connected to the shooting, but now they’re saying it might have been a rock,” Bezotte said.

Bezotte said that the task force and state police are all working closely together on the case that involves more than 20 reported shootings along the I-96 corridor.  

Monday, 11:45 a.m.

Eastbound I-96 at Kensington Road is open after being shut down Monday morning as police search for a gunman who is suspect of more than 20 shootings alone the I-96 corridor.

Brighton Area Schools Superintendent Greg Gray told Patch that schools are no longer on lockdown as of 11:30 a.m.

Monday, 10:39 a.m.

According to Fox 47 News, police are investigating what may be another related shooting incident that occurred Monday morning on southbound U.S 23 north of Brighton.

According to the report, eastbound I-96 at Kensington has been closed down by police and 101-FM WRIF reports that police are stationed on exit ramps from Brighton to Wixom.

The Michigan State Police say they are investigating the incident while Livingston County Sheriff Bob Bezotte said he had no details regarding the incident at this time. 

WHMI reports that no injuries have been reported and that there is a possibility it may have also been a rock.

Brighton Area Schools superintendent Greg Gray said Brighton area schools are on lockdown following the suspect shooting that happened early Monday. 

Gray said around 10:30 a.m. that the district is erring on the side of caution while police investigate whether it was a rock or a bullet that hit the car.

He doesn’t anticipate the schools being on lock down that much longer.

A task force was created to find the man suspected of the shooting incidents in several different counties. On Saturday, two shootings were reported near Fowlerville, with one victim being treated for a gunshot wound. The man was reportedly on his way to the World Series game at Comerica Park on Saturday night.

Here's a look at alternate routes to avoid the I-96/US-23 corridor. 

Patch will post updates of this story as it unfolds.


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