More Weekend Patrols In Light Of Random Shooting Spree
EAST LANSING (WWJ/AP) - Football fans traveling to Michigan State University for this weekend's football game can expect to see more police along the I-96 corridor where there have been 24 random shootings.
Ingham County Sheriff Gene Wriggelsworth said drivers are more likely to get in an accident than get shot, but they're boosting patrols Saturday just in case.
Wrigglesworth said there will be patrol cars at virtually every exit of I-96 in the county. Other deputies will patrol Michigan Highway 52 and Grand River Avenue.
There have been two dozen shootings and one injury reported since Oct. 16 on or near the stretch of freeway in Oakland, Livingston, Shiawassee and Ingham counties -- between metro Detroit and Lansing.
Law enforcement officials suggested that the shootings involve one person armed with a semiautomatic handgun. They say ballistic evidence supports their theory that all shots fired came from the same weapon.
The shootings are being investigated by a task force made up of more than 100 federal, state and local law enforcement officials. They have been reviewing over 2,200 tips that have been spurred by a $102,000 reward.
Witnesses have described the suspect's vehicle as resembling a dark 1998 Oldsmobile Alero or a 1998 Toyota Camry.
Police have been pullion over cars that appear to be involved in "suspicious activities" along some southeast Michigan roads and freeways in an effort to find the man shooting randomly at passing vehicles.
Wrigglesworth said the investigation has been trying because the crime scene is over 100 miles long, and because motorists haven't gotten a good look at the gunman since he usually is driving in the opposite direction.
Anyone with information about the shootings is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP. You can also submit a tip online at www.1800speakup.org, or text "CSM" and your tip to CRIMES (274637).
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