Shooting in Downtown Kalamazoo: shooter is dead, officer is recovering
March 15, 2019
On Tuesday, March 12th at 11:30 am, the Kalamazoo Police Department received information about an active shooter in the Biomat USA Plasma Center in downtown Kalamazoo.
Officers were called near the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission, off from Kalamazoo Avenue near N. Burdick Street. The police department has surrounded the building while the shooter opened fire on the blockade.
One officer was shot and was sent to the hospital and is in stable condition. Bronson Methodist Hospital went on Code Yellow, which initiates an emergency room lockdown that occurs when violence has recently happened, allowing first responders and emergency room doctors and staff to devote their complete attention to the victim(s), in this case, the police officer. The suspect was killed shortly after he exchanged gunfire with the officers.
Portage Northern students primarily heard news about the incident from communication with friends and staff members. Senior Rebecca Netz heard this information just recently in her 7th hour class. “I’m not sure why a shooter would be in a Plasma Center, but I am happy to hear that the shooter can’t hurt anyone and the police officer is safe,” she said.
The Kalamazoo Gospel Mission also locked down and nearby Shakespeare’s Pub temporarily closed due to the active shooting, and the downtown campus is KVCC was on lockdown as well. including Kalamazoo Valley Community College was on lockdown, the Anna Wittenhall campus. KDPS is currently investigating the incident, but they have discovered that the shooter was a former Biomat USA employee.
Lilly • Sep 25, 2019 at 1:39 pm
I do feel very heavily on this topic. The fact that some laws about guns aren’t enforced like they should be, is just sad. So many people are dying everyday from shootings. When no one thinks it will happen to them or near them. I bet you that the people who these shootings have affected didn’t ever think that it would happen to them. When I read about these poor people and families who are touched by this and hurt by this, it makes me feel so sick to my stomach that a human being can be so careless and hurtful as to just hurt someone like that. How many deaths of people is it going to take for this huge problem to be somewhat helped or fixed.
rachel kelsey • Sep 24, 2019 at 6:54 pm
Hearing or being involved with a shooting is traumatizing. Being shot by the shooter is even worse and I hope that the officer won’t have to go through that again. I’m glad that the shooter was killed because this world shouldn’t have to be filled with people who create chaos. Even though I am glad the shooter was killed, no one deserves to die. I am also very happy to hear that everyone at the Plaza is okay and no one was hurt.
Desirae Cavanaugh • Sep 24, 2019 at 1:33 pm
After reading this article guns should not be aloud on anyone and everyone for saftey reasons.One big reason I believe not everyone should be able to have guns is because not everyone knows how to use them. Most people that do have guns or buy guns from someone on the street do not use it for hunting which is sad because not only are they hurting someone but also risking their life. Shooting someone is a big deal and you will spend most of your life or all of your life in prison.Some people want to be locked down and personally I don’t understand because I love my freedom that I do have.When buying a gun you should have to be at least 18 even if you buy it from someone you know and not the store you should have to take it somewhere and have it put in your name. Not having a gun in your name and you get caught with it could possibly get someone in trouble that has done nothing wrong.
Destiny Freuer • Sep 24, 2019 at 1:19 pm
I personally think with this sort of thing it is a more serious topic well of course it is. But also with things like this it just makes me question like how did the shooter die? Did he have a motive? I mean I know this is some information that’s gonna pull someone into it more. ” KDPS is currently investigating the incident, but they have discovered that the shooter was a former Biomat USA employee.” I do however like here that it did give more information about the people/person.
Kayce Chapman • Sep 24, 2019 at 1:15 pm
I am glad to hear that the police officer is okay. I don’t want to say that I am glad on how the shooter was dealt with, but it is good to know that he deserved something. However I am quite con fused on why there was a shooter at the Plasma Center. I learn what a Yellow Alert is by reading this article and how serious it is.
Timothy J Srackangast • Sep 24, 2019 at 11:52 am
This is so sad to see. I wish that people could just get along, and not have to shoot people over disagreements. To me I see this as a common problem in the United States. This is so sad to me because I don’t understand why people think that shooting someone is the best option. I think that the shooter should have just talked it out and everything would have worked out fine.