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Resident tells commission ‘silence is deafening’ after 3‑year‑old critically injured; urges city review of KDPS response
Summary
During public comment at the June 2 Committee of the Whole meeting, a resident raised concerns about apparent delays in charging or arresting an adult after a May 3 child shooting incident, saying the Department of Public Safety reported its investigation complete but no arrests had been made.
A public commenter urged the Kalamazoo City Commission on June 2 to press for accountability after a 3‑year‑old child was critically injured in a self‑inflicted gunshot wound on May 3, 2025, and — the commenter said — no arrest or charges had been announced 30 days later.
The commenter (not named in the transcript) said the County Department of Public Safety (KDPS) had responded to a gun violence incident on Vine Street on May 3 and that, in the commenter’s account, KDPS had told the public the investigation is complete and that it was "working with the prosecutor's office." The commenter said: "It has now been 30 days. No charges. No arrests. No mugshot or name released. No accountability." The speaker added, "This person's actions led directly to a child being critically wounded and constitute a clear threat to public safety, and yet we see no public consequences."
The commenter contrasted public‑facing KDPS practices in other cases — routine social‑media posts of arrests and confiscated firearms — with what the commenter described as a lack of public information in this incident. The speaker asked city leadership to "take a hard look at this case and get some law enforcement out of our law enforcement," and called for justice for the child and the community.
No KDPS or prosecutor statements were presented at the meeting. The comment described KDPS as having told the commenter that investigators had completed a review and were coordinating with the prosecutor; the commission did not take formal action at the Committee of the Whole and no departmental report was provided during the session.
What happened next: the meeting moved on to other agenda items. The commenter’s remarks were part of the public comment period and did not trigger an immediate public response from KDPS or a separate agenda item at that meeting.
Why it matters: the comment raises public concern about timeliness, transparency and consistency in criminal investigations involving children and firearms. Commissioners and city staff did not provide additional details on the case in the Committee of the Whole session. Community members seeking updates should consult KDPS or the prosecuting attorney’s office for the official status of any investigation or charging decision.
