ROYAL OAK, Mich. – A quiet Thursday afternoon quickly spun into chaos as gunshots rang out at the Devon Park Apartments in Royal Oak.
The shooting happened near 13 Mile and Crooks – right across the street from Royal Oak High School – after an argument spilled into the parking lot and quickly turned deadly.
“This was a targeted act. It appears several shots were fired,” Royal Oak Police Chief Michael Moore said on Thursday afternoon. He said that the victim was likely targeted in this attack and that the two men knew each other.
“It appears there was a relationship,” Moore said. “It just does not appear random at all. And again, it goes to me being confident there, that there is no danger to the public at this time.”
The shooting happened just before noon. According to witnesses, an angry dispute spilled out of an apartment and into the parking lot.
A man who witnessed it said was one of the maintenance men was shot multiple times and left lying in the parking lot. The unidentified man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Schools that were holding summer programs in the area were briefly locked down, but reopened around 3 p.m.
Police from Royal Oak and Madison Heights quickly arrived on the scene and took the shooter — who has also not been identified as of yet —into custody. He is currently awaiting charges.
“It is a safe community,” Moore said. “This isn’t something that we encounter very often. So, again, safety is a priority.”
Moore said that despite having a man in custody, the investigation continues. Anyone with information should contact the Royal Oak Police Department.