GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- A man was shot and killed in Grand Rapids on Wednesday night (November 12) after crashing his vehicle into a light pole near Hall Street SE and Kalamazoo Avenue SE. Officers patrolling the area heard gunshots and discovered the man, believed to be in his late teens or early 20s, inside the crashed vehicle. Despite attempts to save him, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstrom stated that it is unclear whether the victim was shot while driving or attempting to drive after being shot elsewhere. The incident marks the 13th homicide in Grand Rapids this year. Winstrom emphasized the need for community assistance in solving the case, urging anyone with information to contact the Grand Rapids Police Department or Silent Observer.
The shooting is part of a recent string of violence in the area, with multiple incidents occurring in the past week. On Tuesday, gunfire was exchanged between officers and a suspect on Adams Street, and another shooting left a man injured near Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Just days earlier, a man was found shot dead on Hollister Avenue, reported WOODTV.
Winstrom expressed the community's frustration and fear, noting that residents are fed up with the ongoing violence. He stressed the importance of community involvement in addressing the issue, stating, "We need help from the community."