KALAMAZOO, Mich.—
A teenager has been arrested after using a stolen handgun to fire shots in a crowded Kalamazoo parking lot early Sunday morning.At 1:30 a.m. Sunday, Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Officers were in the 2800 block of West Michigan Avenue addressing a large crowd of about 200 people who had gathered in the area when Sgt. Scott Smith observed a person in the crowd raise what appeared to be a handgun and fire three shots into the air. The crowd of people began scattering in different directions.
Smith and another officer chased the shooter as he ran from the area.
The suspected shooter -- a 19-year-old male from Kalamazoo -- was apprehended after a brief foot pursuit. During the chase the teen threw the gun underneath a parked car. The gun -- a .38 caliber five-shot revolver that had been reported stolen in Parchment -- was quickly recovered by officers.
The teenager was arrested for reckless discharge of a firearm, felon in possession of a firearm, obstructing police and possession of a stolen handgun. He was taken to the Kalamazoo County Jail pending his arraignment in court.
Anyone with any information about the incident is being asked to contact the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety at (269) 337-8994, the Criminal Investigation Division at (269) 337-8139 or Silent Observer at (269) 343-2100.
