Five injured in shooting at Bass River Recreation Area; suspect in custody, police say
Five people were injured, including one critically, following an early Sunday morning shooting at the Bass River Recreation Area in Robinson Township, according to the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office.
ROBINSON TWP. — Five people were injured, including one critically, following an early Sunday morning shooting at the Bass River Recreation Area in Robinson Township, according to the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities say a suspect is in custody after a multi-agency response, and there is no ongoing threat to the public.
Deputies were initially dispatched to the popular recreation area at about 2:30 a.m. July 26 following reports of gunfire and multiple victims. As officers rushed to the scene, panicked partygoers were already fleeing the area — some pulling over along nearby roadsides to seek help, while others drove straight to local emergency rooms.
Responding deputies first located an injured juvenile near M-231 and Lincoln Avenue, providing immediate emergency medical care before LIFE EMS transported the victim to a regional hospital. Shortly after, deputies were flagged down on Mercury Drive near 112th Avenue by occupants of a second vehicle carrying three additional gunshot victims. All three were subsequently rushed to the hospital for treatment. A fifth victim later checked into a separate hospital independently.
As of Sunday, four of the victims are listed in stable condition. The fifth victim remains in critical condition with injuries that authorities describe as non-life-threatening.
Witnesses who stayed at the scene provided crucial details regarding the suspect and the getaway vehicle, which was immediately broadcast to surrounding law-enforcement agencies.
A short time later, Allegan County Sheriff’s deputies spotted and pulled over the suspect vehicle. Assisted by the Holland Department of Public Safety and the Michigan State Police, officers took the driver and three passengers into custody without further incident. Ottawa County deputies arrived shortly after to take the primary suspect into custody and transport them to the Ottawa County Jail.
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According to a preliminary investigation, the violence erupted after a large gathering — consisting of both adults and juveniles — turned hostile. Authorities say an argument escalated, leading a single shooter to open fire on a group of unarmed people.
The Allendale Fire Department was brought in overnight to provide heavy lighting at the Bass River Recreation Area so crime scene technicians and detectives could process evidence.
Also assisting at the scene were the Grand Haven Department of Public Safety.
The investigation remains ongoing by the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office. Anyone with additional information or video footage of the incident is urged to contact law enforcement:
- Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office: Call 888-731-1001 or 616-738-4000 for non-emergency tips.
- Ottawa County Non-Emergency Dispatch: Call 616-994-7850 or (800) 249-0911.
- Submit a tip anonymously at Silent Observer: Call 877-88-SILENT or visit occda.org/silent-observer.
— Submitted by the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office. To submit a news tip, email newsroom@ottawanewsnetwork.org.
