An 8-year-old boy critically injured in a mass shooting at the Brooklands Plaza splash pad in Rochester Hills, Michigan, is showing remarkable progress in his recovery, according to Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard.
The boy, his 4-year-old family, and their mom were among the nine victims of the firing on Saturday.
8-Year-Old Boy Shot at Splash Pad Shooting
The tragic incident unfolded when 42-year-old Michael William Nash opened fire, discharging as many as 36 shots and breaking several times to reload.
Nash also returned to his home in Shelby Township, where he took his own life. According to officers, Nash had no connection to the victims or the splash pad, a popular local attraction.
The 8-year-old boy, who was shot in the head, has made significant strides in his recovery, although he remains in critical condition.
His 4-year-old brother, who was shot in the leg, is in stable condition, and their 39-year-old mama, who was struck in the tummy and leg, also remains critically injured.
Sheriff Bouchard shared his thoughts on the family's ordeal, stating, "Reeling would be an understatement. That poor family went through effects that no family should ever have to face."
The sheriff verified that five other victims are in stable condition, with two having been released from the sanitarium. All the other victims, apart from the two young brothers, are grown-ups.
Michigan Shooter's Background
Authorities recovered a cache of arms from Nash's home, including 11 firearms - handguns, rifles, and shotguns.
Nash's 9 mm Glock handgun, used in the shooting, was bought fairly in 2015. Despite living with his mother, Nash was alone at home during the attack. Neighbors described Nash as a loner who kept to himself.
The motive behind Nash's conduct remains unclear, although Sheriff Bouchard noted that Nash displayed signs of paranoia, including claims of being watched and government surveillance.
It appears that he's had some internal mental health struggles going on, Bouchard said, emphasizing that there were no previous reports of these issues.
Michigan recently legislated a law allowing judges to expropriate arms if a family member reports implicit threats, but no similar intervention passed in Nash's case.
This mass shooting was one of several across the United States over the weekend. Six people were shot in Lathrup Village, another Detroit exurb; seven were injured at a party in Methuen, Massachusetts; and eight were shot during a Juneteenth festivity in Round Rock, Texas, where two people were killed.
A Cry Towards the Halt of Gun Violence
In response to the recent shooting, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre verified that President Biden is nearly covering these events and has extended his prayers to the affected families.
The chairman has been tracking these tragedies. We're soliciting for the families who lost loved ones to this senseless violence and wishing all those who were injured a speedy recovery," she stated.
Jean-Pierre reiterated the president's position on gun violence, prompting Congress to take action.
As the president has said, this isn't normal, and Congress must act. At the same time, he'll continue to use every tool at his disposal to end the epidemic of gun violence that's tearing our communities apart, she added.
Related Article: Disney Fans Outraged Over New Disability Access Restrictions
