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Authorities: Shooting suspect’s troubled past includes known gang ties

Posted at 7:44 PM, Feb 11, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-11 19:44:47-05

MUSKEGON CO., Mich. -- Clarence McCaleb is facing felony assault and weapons charges. FOX 17 has learned through court records and the prosecutor’s office that the 21-year-old is identified by police as a known gang member in Grand Rapids.

The Muskegon County Prosecutor's Office said Grand Rapids police detectives indicate that McCaleb has known ties to the Bemis Boys street gang in Grand Rapids. McCaleb also has a criminal history dating back several years, with past convictions for carrying a concealed weapon and possession of drugs. According to court testimony from detectives, McCaleb was carrying a handgun when he fired at a crowd of people following the Muskegon Heights versus Ottawa Hills basketball game on Tuesday night.

Muskegon County sheriff’s deputy Tom Schmidt, who was on security detail outside the game, heard the sound of a gun shot and saw a man who appeared to be “firing randomly at numerous people in the parking lot.”

The deputy confronted the suspect, identified himself as a police officer, and told the man to drop the gun repeatedly. That’s when the suspect turned toward the deputy and pointed the gun at him. The deputy fired his service weapon and hit the suspect. Again, this is according to testimony from probable cause hearings in court. During McCaleb’s arraignment on Wednesday, the judge addressed why McCaleb would be held on a high bond of $250,000. Meantime, the superintendent of schools said all three people hit by gunfire were simply innocent bystanders. Two of them are students.

McCaleb is still recovering from being shot. He's due back in court on March 1st for a preliminary hearing. At that time, the judge will determine if there’s enough evidence to send him to trial on the charges.