• Police are chasing a sniper suspect by nearly two dozen cars.
shootings in Michigan that began October 16
• More than 100 local deputies, sheriff’s deputies, state troopers and
Federal agents participate in the investigation.
• Investigators and state police are stopping local drivers and
asking them for details
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Police are hunting a sniper in Michigan linked to 22 shootings at cars in two weeks, which have so far left one injured.
A task force of investigators has begun questioning drivers in four Michigan counties in hopes of catching a man suspected of shooting head-on at other motorists on the road. Police investigators are looking for anything out of the ordinary during their traffic stops in Oakland, Livingston, Ingham and Shiawassee counties.
More than 100 local deputies, sheriff’s deputies, state troopers and federal agents are now involved in the investigation, which began with reports of shootings in Wixom, about 25 miles northwest of Detroit on Oct. 16.
Artist’s impression: Police arrested the 43-year-old man on suspicion of being the sniper, pictured, who shot at random cars in four Michigan counties in two weeks.
More than a hundred officers, agents, state police and agents pursue the shooter
A local man was shot in the back Saturday while heading east on Interstate 96 in Livingston County, prompting a nearby school to close, according to United Press International.
That victim has been the only person injured so far, but it is believed the suspect was shooting at people and not just their vehicles, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said Tuesday.
“It was more the grace of God than the guy intentionally disappearing people,” Bouchard said. ‘We’ve had people who have been missed (by) inches. A bullet was lodged in the driver’s seat.
“The suspect is believed to be shooting at vehicles approaching from the opposite direction,” Michigan State Police Lt. Michael Shaw said.
“Some drivers didn’t realize their vehicles had been hit until they had driven a quarter mile or more,” he said.
The investigative task force has received more than 800 tips so far and has increased the reward money for any information leading to an arrest from $12,000 to $102,000.
Witnesses have described the suspect’s vehicle as resembling a dark vehicle.
1998 Oldsmobile Alero or 1998 Toyota Camry. Those initial descriptions may not be correct, Shaw said.
The I-96 freeway where the shootings took place.
On Monday, police detained the driver of a dark-colored Chevy Cavalier after a woman reported something hit her car on US 23 near Brighton, Michigan, at 9:05 a.m.
No arrests have been made.
Local officials say it is imperative to catch the suspect not only to protect lives, but also to stop the spread of fear among citizens in the area.
“For Halloween, we’re going to do special patrols in each of our subdivisions so kids can have a normal Halloween,” said Clarence Goodlein, Wixom Public Safety Director.
“We’re not going to let a bully and a bully bully us and change the course of our lives.”