Man allegedly shoots girlfriend after sneaking into her home

MADISON HEIGHTS — An ex-boyfriend and girlfriend are recovering after injuring each other in an altercation where police believe the man held the woman at gunpoint, prompting her to stab him in self-defense before he shot her and fled the scene.

Madison Heights police were notified of the incident around 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12. Officers responded to a home in the 27000 block of Delton Avenue where the boyfriend had reportedly called 911, saying his ex had stabbed him in the neck. The suspect was identified as Jonah Matthew Lowe, 27, of Royal Oak.

Dispatchers also received a second 911 call shortly thereafter, from the ex-girlfriend, 25, of Madison Heights. She said she had been shot by Lowe at the same location.

According to police, officers found the woman with a gunshot wound to her leg. Lowe had already left the home. She told police she had stabbed him in self-defense. She was transported to Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital in Royal Oak for treatment. At press time, her condition was stable.

Further investigation revealed that Lowe reportedly snuck inside the house while his ex was away. Lowe allegedly hid there, waiting for her, and when she returned with her 2-year-old child, Lowe confronted her, approaching with a handgun.

The victim told police that Lowe refused to let her leave the home. At some point, the woman was reportedly able to obtain a kitchen knife. While Lowe was distracted, she stabbed him.

She then tried to flee the house with her daughter, but not before Lowe fired a single round, striking the woman’s leg. She fled to a neighbor’s house and called for help.

Lowe, meanwhile, called 911 and allegedly returned to his home on Blair Street in Royal Oak. Police from Madison Heights, Royal Oak, Berkley, Clawson and Ferndale worked together to locate Lowe and took him into custody at his house without incident. He was also transported to the hospital for treatment and is in stable condition.

Lowe was arraigned by Magistrate Michael Mitchell in the 43rd District Court in Madison Heights on Oct. 14. He was charged with first-degree home invasion, a 20-year felony; discharging a firearm at or in a building causing injury, a 15-year felony; unlawful imprisonment, a 15-year felony; assault with intent to do great bodily harm, a 10-year felony; assault with a dangerous weapon, a four-year felony; and five felony weapons counts. His bond was set at $1 million.

Lowe’s attorney, Kenneth Burger, did not return a request for comment by press time.

Madison Heights Police Lt. David Koehler said the victim’s child was unharmed in the incident. When asked what the suspect may have been planning, Koehler declined to speculate.

“We don’t really have any insight into that,” Koehler said. “His intentions that day obviously appear to be with criminal intent, but I can’t assume what the end result would’ve been. We’re just thankful for the assistance of our partner (police) departments — they were very helpful when we had multiple crime scenes and areas to investigate. We also want to encourage any potential victims of domestic violence to reach out and seek help before the situation gets too bad.”

One group that assists victims of domestic violence is HAVEN, in Pontiac. HAVEN can be reached by calling (248) 334-1284.