Police identify suspects in BB, gel blaster shootings

FERNDALE — Police investigating multiple incidents involving BB or gel pellet guns were able to identify suspects in the case.

According to Ferndale police, the issues first arose on July 1 with two separate incidents. The first occurred at 7:45 p.m. near East Breckenridge Street and Stauber Avenue, where an individual walking a dog was fired upon. The next incident happened at 8:50 p.m. on Moorhouse Street. In both incidents, the shots came from a red SUV.

“We weren’t sure if it was BBs or Orbeez,” he said, referring to a brand of gel beads. “Officers came, we got Ring camera footage from one of the people, and we started a whole investigation to try to identify the vehicle and everything else,” Ferndale Police Department communications liaison Evan Ahlin said.

Police were called once again for another shooting at 4:40 p.m. July 3 at the city’s dog park at Wilson Park. As with the other cases, a red SUV drove up and shot either BBs or gel blasters at a victim who was at the dog park with a dog.

“The victim actually obtained the license plate and make and model of the vehicle,” Ahlin said. “Police identified the owner of the vehicle and then identified that there (were) three juveniles who were in the car and driving the car during the third incident.”

Ahlin said police were able to make contact with the juveniles, who are all under the age of 18. They were detained and questioned with their parents present and, upon further investigation, it was determined that all three incidents were linked together.

After the three suspects were questioned, the juveniles were released to their parents. Police stated last week that the investigation is ongoing, but Ahlin stressed there is no public safety threat at this time.

“What this comes down to is all these incidents are juvenile mischief,” he said. “There is no public safety threat at all. And it’s also key to know, too, since we have detained these individuals and questioned them and identified who, that there’s been no other incidents that have taken place within the city at all.”