Mystery surrounds Oakland County jogger's shooting death

Ally Brueger, 31, was shot while running along road in Rose Township

ROSE TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Ally Brueger was jogging Saturday afternoon along a gravel road in Oakland County when she was shot and killed. 

Neighbors in the tight-knit community of Holly Township describe Brueger as a young woman with a passion for life. She died doing something she loved. 

More: Woman killed while jogging in northern Oakland County

"Oh my gosh, this girl was a religious runner," said Thais Peck, a family friend. 

Brueger, 31, ran the same 10-mile route each day. Neighbors said they usually saw her jogging with headphones on. She was focused on the run. 

"She just minded her own business. She had her blinders on, and she would run every day, never missing a day," said Peck.

Witnesses called 911

On Saturday afternoon, Brueger was jogging along Fish Lake Road in Rose Township when she was shot multiple times. She collapsed on a front lawn where neighbors saw her. They called 911. 

911 dispatcher: "Is the person who shot her ... are they still there?"

Caller: "No. She is laying face down."

Peck called it heartbreaking. 

"This is just so random," she said. "I just ... I can't believe it happened."

Victim was nurse in Novi, graduate student

Brueger was a nurse at Providence Park Hospital in Novi. She was working on a master's degree in creative writing. She was an only child. 

"Such a close, close-knit family. She and her mom were best friends. I mean, like best friends who did everything together," said Peck. 

Brueger's mother wrote about her daughter in a social media post: 

Ally was our beloved, only child. She was kind, thoughtful, considerate. She had a witty sense of humor but she was also a very serious-minded individual."

"It's just a wonderful family that didn't deserve this. She didn't deserve this, nobody does, but I mean to just be attacked from behind like that ... it's shocking," said Peck. 

Police seek suspect

Michigan State Police are searching for a suspect. They are looking for a white or light-colored sedan. Police only want calls from people who saw a white or light-colored sedan traveling along Fish Lake Road between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday. The driver may have been speeding or driving erratically. Anyone with information needs to call state police. 

If you would like to help the Brueger family, go here.

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About the Author:

Priya joined WDIV-Local 4 in 2013 as a reporter and fill-in anchor. Education: B.A. in Communications/Post Grad in Advanced Journalism