8-year-old dies after shooting inside Canton Township home

Investigation underway to determine circumstances of shooting; 1 person in custody

Editor’s note: The shooting did not take place at a home in the Glen Ridge Manufactured Community as previously reported. It took place at a home in a community next door.

CANTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Police said an 8-year-old boy was shot after a weapon discharged inside a Canton Township home.

As of Wednesday morning, Local 4 and ClickOnDetroit learned the child has died. Police said a person is in custody in connection with the deadly shooting.

UPDATE: Canton man faces involuntary manslaughter charge in shooting death of 8-year-old son

“It is with much sadness that we report the 8-year old boy succumbed to his injuries yesterday,” reads a statement Wednesday from Deputy Police Chief Craig Wilsher. “An individual is in custody, and we expect to turn our investigation over to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office later today.”

A 911 call came in at about 4 p.m. Tuesday from a home on Old Michigan Avenue. A person connected to park management believes the boy’s father was cleaning his gun when it accidentally went off. However, police have not confirmed that information.

“I feel so bad and I just pray for the family,” said Vickie Lee, who lives a few houses away. “It’s really shocking.”

Police are not identifying the family but Lee said the boys she knows on the block are good kids.

“They would be playing around in the street. They would say ‘Hi.’ They’re good little boys,” she said.

More: Wayne County news

More: Canton Township news


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Jason anchors Local 4's 5:30 p.m. newscast. He joined WDIV in January 2015 as a general assignment reporter and has a Journalism degree from Michigan State University.

Nick joined the Local 4 team in February of 2015. Prior to that he spent 6 years in Sacramento covering a long list of big stories including wildfires and earthquakes. Raised in Sterling Heights, he is no stranger to the deep history and pride Detroit has to offer.