Police have arrested two suspects in what appears to be a targeted murder and robbery in Dowagiac. It happened at a home in the 700 block of Louise Ave. Police called thereon reports that a resident had been shot and killed, only to discover that it was all part of a robbery.
Police say two men broke into the home shot one of the residents and then tied up three others as they searched for items to steal. The resident that was shot died at the scene, and the three others that were tied up were able to free themselves after the robbers left. It was quickly determined that this was not random and they identified two suspects, one of which had lived in the home before.
As the suspects await arraignment they have been identified only as a 38 year old male from White Pigeon and a 41 year old Male from Kalamazoo.
Read the full release below:
Dowagiac Police were dispatched to a residence in the 700 block of Louise Ave. in Dowagiac on Monday morning at approximately 1:40 A.M. Cass County dispatch received information via text that a male subject had been shot at the residence and was deceased. Officers responded and located the victim, a 40 year old male from Dowagiac, dead from a gunshot wound.
Upon further investigation Dowagiac Police determined that two suspects entered the residence with the intent to rob the people there. Upon entering the residence the victim was shot by one of the suspects. There were three other people in the residence at the time who were then tied up by the suspects as they searched the residence for items to steal. These subjects were not injured during the incident. The suspects then fled the scene. The people in the residence were able to free themselves prior to police arriving. Police determined that this was not a random incident and that the residence was specifically targeted by the suspects.
During the subsequent investigation Dowagiac Police developed a suspect, a 38 year old male subject from White Pigeon, Michigan. It was determined that this suspect had also previously lived at the Louise Ave. address. Police located this suspect at a location north of Three Rivers, Michigan in St. Joseph County and he was taken into custody without incident.
Police determined that the second suspect, a 41 year old male from Kalamazoo, Michigan, was currently at a residence near Kalamazoo. Officers obtained a search warrant for that residence and were assisted by Kalamazoo Township Police and Kalamazoo Metro SWAT in executing the search warrant at the Kalamazoo residence. The second suspect was taken into custody at that location without further incident.
Both suspects were lodged at the Cass County Jail on murder charges. The suspect’s names are being withheld pending their arraignment in Cass County 4th District Court. All charges are pending authorization from the Cass County Prosecutor’s Office. The name of the victim is being withheld at this time pending notification of all family members.
Dowagiac Police were assisted in this investigation by Detectives from the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, the Cass County Drug Enforcement Team, Kalamazoo Township Police and Kalamazoo Metro SWAT. This incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call Dowagiac Police at (269) 782-9743, or the Cass County Tip Line at (800) 462-9328.
