FIFE LAKE – The Michigan State Police (MSP) reported a shooting a man in Fife Lake Jan. 27.
According to an MSP statement, deputies from the Kalkaska County Sheriff’s Office were called to a residence on Ingersol Road in Fife Lake for a domestic assault. The suspect, a 35-year-old Fife Lake man, had fled the scene by the time they arrived.
On Sunday, the suspect was seen on a neighboring property owner’s trail camera about one mile from the residence on Ingersol Road. The property owner asked another neighbor to check the security of his trailer because he doesn’t live nearby.
The neighbor drove to the trailer and was confronted by the suspect. The suspect exited the trailer and fired a gun into the air. The neighbor left and contacted police.
A conservation officer from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and a deputy from the Kalkaska County Sheriff’s Office responded and the suspect fled into the woods.
As the conservation officer and deputy pursued him, they heard gunfire and took cover. A Michigan State Police (MSP) K-9 Team, and a member of the MSP Emergency Support Team (EST) responded and began a track of the suspect.
The suspect was tracked to an elevated enclosed tree stand. Upon approaching the tree stand a confrontation occurred and troopers fired at the suspect inside the stand. Additional MSP EST members responded along with MSP Aviation.
A drone was deployed, and it was determined that the suspect was deceased. Troopers later recovered a loaded gun under the body of the suspect.
The MSP Forensic Science Laboratory from Grayling and the MSP Sixth District Investigative Response Team from Grand Rapids responded to the scene. Their investigation is ongoing.
