Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Chief Boysen: four July 4 shooting incidents produced eight victims and one homicide; police urge tips
Summary
Kalamazoo police reported four separate shootings overnight on July 4 that resulted in eight victims, including one fatality and two juveniles among those involved; officers increased patrols and asked for community tips, offering anonymous reporting options.
Kalamazoo Police Chief Boysen told the City Commission on July 7 that July 4 produced a difficult and violent night for the city.
Chief Boysen said officers responded to four different shooting incidents between about 11:50 p.m. and 4 a.m., yielding eight shooting victims. One person was killed and another remained in critical condition; the remaining six victims sustained relatively minor injuries. He said several of the incidents involved multiple shooters and extensive cartridge casings at the scenes, characterizing the events as "shootouts." The chief identified at least two juveniles involved, ages 17 and 15.
Police have been working around the clock to gather evidence and identify suspects. Chief Boysen said the department is increasing patrols and reassigning officers to focus on the surge in violence, and he thanked community partners and outreach teams aiding investigations and victim support.
The chief urged witnesses to come forward and offered reporting options: KDPS detective bureau at (269) 337‑8139, anonymous tips to Kalamazoo Silent Observer at (269) 343‑2100, via www.kalamzoosilentobserver.com or the P3 Tips app.
Commissioners echoed condolences to the families of victims and reiterated that community cooperation is essential to solving these cases.
The department said investigations remain active and asked anyone with information to contact detectives or submit anonymous tips.
