Suspect in custody after reports of man shooting at kids riding their bikes in Van Buren Township

VAN BUREN TWP. (WWJ) — A suspect is in custody after a police situation led to a shelter-in-place order for neighbors in Wayne County’s Van Buren Township on Wednesday.

Shortly before 12:30 p.m., Van Buren Township Public Safety sent an alert to residents in the area of Bog Road to shelter in place as police were dealing with an active shooter.

Bog road was closed between Hoeft and Rawsonville as a result of the situation, and the public was asked to avoid the area.

Speaking with neighbors, WWJ Newsradio 950’s Tim Pamplin has learned that a man was sitting on his porch when it’s alleged he began firing off guns as three young boys were riding their bikes down the dirt road.

This is in a rural area, about a mile south of Belleville Lake.

Reporting from the scene, Pamplin said no one was injured.

“When the shots started firing off towards these three young lads on their bikes, a neighbor came running out, grabbed them, got them in the basement, and that’s when the police arrived and SWAT team arrived,” Pamplin said.

Pamplin reported that the gunman, said to be in his 40s, was armed with both a handgun and a long gun.

Neighbors, including Beth Smith, were instructed to take cover inside their homes.

“Police arrived and they said… you know, he was shooting his gun. They got the little boys in the house, in the basement. They told all of us to shut our doors, that he had been shooting,” Smith said.

The shooter then went into his house, and it took about an hour for police to talk him back out. He surrendered without further incident, and was custody at around 1:10 p.m.

At this time, it’s unclear why the man started shooting.

Police said the suspect man have been drinking, as the department has had runs to his home in the past regarding alcohol use.

“We did check out internal records and we have had some responses out here,” said Van Buren Township Police Det. Lt. Ken Kenneth Floro. “But nothing related to mental health concerns or weapons type violations.”

The three children are OK, and were handed over to their parents.

The man’s name was not immediately released, with charges pending.

Stay with WWJ as we gather more on this developing story. >>LISTEN LIVE!!