WAYNE TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Cass County Undersheriff Richard J. Behnke says a man is in custody and a 9-year-old is under evaluation following the deadly shooting of a woman at a home northeast of Dowagiac Tuesday night.
Authorities were called to the home in the 24000 block of Flanders Street in Wayne Township at approximately 9:39 p.m., after a caller advised there had been shots fired within a residence and there was a need for emergency response.
Deputies arrived at the home approximately 10 minutes later to find a male and a 9-year-old girl exiting the residence. Both appeared uninjured and surrendered to emergency personnel.
Investigators would later secure the residence and find an adult woman within the home deceased from an apparent gunshot wound.
The male seen leaving the home was subsequently taken into custody for questioning. The 9-year-old girl was taken to Lee Memorial Hospital in Dowagiac for evaluation, though investigators noted the girl didn’t appear to be injured.
In a press release, Undersheriff Behnke says the preliminary investigation revealed a verbal argument had transpired between the male and the deceased female prior to shots being fired within the home.
Investigators are currently working to obtain a search warrant to further investigate the crime scene.
Investigators say the incident appears to be contained to this one residence, and don’t believe there is any safety concerns for the neighboring community.
Cass County deputies were assisted at the scene by Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Tribal Police, the Michigan State Police and Pride Care Ambulance service.
Further details are expected to be released by investigators Wednesday morning.
