GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — One person is dead and another is in critical condition following an exchange of gunfire in Grand Rapids' southside early Friday morning.
“[It's] one of the largest crime scenes I have seen in my career,” Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstrom told FOX 17 in a press conference.
The Grand Rapids Police Department (GRPD) is investigating the shooting that took place on Division Ave South near Fair Street SE not far from My Place Bar.
Chief Eric Winstrom tells FOX 17 two officers were driving north on Divison just after 2 a.m. when they heard gunfire and saw a large group of people running in all directions.
Watch surveillance video of the street leading up to the shooting, courtesy of 777-Plaza Tire:
"It was utter chaos," said Chief Winstrom, as he described the scene. "There were dozens if not hundreds of individuals that were in and out of that bar."
A gunfight followed — GRPD officers reportedly got out of their cruiser, one of them firing at suspects. Early reports show those shots did not hit anyone.
Witnesses and officers involved described seeing at least five guns during the shootout.
GRPD said two people were shot. One was pronounced dead on the scene. Another was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the stomach.
Chief Winstrom said neither victim was found in the area where the officer had fired their shots.
#BREAKING: Grand Rapids Police Dept. is investigating an officer-involved shooting along several blocks on Division Ave S near Fair St SE.
— Lauren Kummer (@LaurenKummerTV) September 29, 2023
Officers say they saw two individuals exchange gunfire. One was hit in the stomach and is in critical condition. Another is dead. @FOX17 pic.twitter.com/DvkqJkjrjj
Two firearms have already been recovered from the scene, according to GRPD.
Drones will be used during the investigation as buildings and vehicles were damaged over several city blocks.
"We're able to see is there anything that landed on top of a car, on top of the roof of a building, things like that, that we would, in the past have to use ladders to look for, and now we're able to really quickly clear up the scene a lot faster than we would have a few months ago before we had the drones,” said Winstrom.
Michigan State Police is heading up the investigation into the officer's involvement. The officer who fired their weapon has been placed on administrative leave which is protocol.
GRPD will continue with the homicide investigation.
"We have a young man whose life was taken away from him," said Chief Winstrom. "His life was important, and we're going to need to find justice for him [and] closure for his family," he said.
FOX 17 is working to get more information on the victims and what led up to the shooting, but we do know both victims are men believed to be in their 20s. Police are working to notify their families.
Division Avenue South between Cottage Grove and Stevens Streets have been shutdown until further notice. Buses that would travel the area have been rerouted as well.
