What Happened at Rochester Hills Splash Pad? Tragedy Strikes as Gunman Opens Fire

On Saturday evening, a gunman named Michael William Nash fired 28 shots, shocking the community with an act of violence. Micayla and Eric Coughlin were at the splash pad with their young daughters, just moments after getting ice cream, when chaos erupted. Eyewitnesses described Nash arriving armed and clearly intending to cause harm.

“In an effort to save their children, they each grabbed a child to protect them,” said a family friend in a GoFundMe post, highlighting the heroic actions of the Coughlins amidst the gunfire.

The Coughlins bravely protected their 2-year-old and 7-month-old daughters from the gunfire, but sadly, they were shot a total of 7 times. Their courageous actions highlighted the harsh truth faced by nine victims that day, including children and elderly people, who were all caught in the gunman’s random shooting spree.

Police arrived quickly, within less than 2 minutes, but the gunman, Michael William Nash, escaped temporarily and went to a nearby home where he later killed himself.

This tragic event has deeply affected the Rochester Hills community, adding to a series of troubling shootings in Michigan recently. The incident has left residents shocked and struggling to come to terms with the violence that unfolded at Brooklands Plaza Splash Pad.

“Rochester Hills has always been known as a safe community, so to experience this level of violence is truly shocking,” expressed Mayor Bryan Barnett, emphasizing the collective disbelief at the tragic events.

Residents of Dequindre Estates, where Nash lived, are shocked.

Adam Urauhart Sr., remembering when police arrived suddenly in their calm neighborhood, expressed how troubling it is to have violence so close to their homes and families. Despite everyone coming together to support each other, people feel uneasy as they try to understand why Nash did such a thing.

“As we continue to investigate, our priority is to provide support to the victims and their families during this difficult time,” assured Sheriff Michael Bouchard, acknowledging the community’s need for answers.

Community members, while united in grief, are also determined to reclaim their sense of security and ensure that such an incident never repeats itself. The tragic events of that Saturday serve as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of public spaces and the urgent need for measures to prevent such senseless acts of violence.

“In the face of this adversity, we stand together to support one another and heal as a community,” remarked a local resident during a candlelight vigil held in memory of the victims.