Teenagers Arrested After Foot Chase and Officer Gunfire Exchange
Two Traverse City males were arrested after a Saturday night larceny from a vehicle call escalated into a foot chase and an exchange of gunfire with pursuing officers. The incident prompted shelter in place alerts for residents and students, and investigators recovered a firearm and shell casings linked to the case.
Traverse City police arrested an 18 year old male and a 17 year old male from Traverse City after a Saturday night larceny from a vehicle call turned into a foot pursuit and an exchange of gunfire with officers. Officers located two people matching the description of the larceny suspects, and when the pair fled on foot one drew a firearm and fired several rounds toward pursuing officers. No one was struck by gunfire, although one round struck an officer's uniform pant leg.
The younger suspect faces an attempted homicide charge in addition to larceny from an auto and resisting or obstructing counts. The 18 year old is lodged on larceny and resisting or obstructing charges. Michigan State Police executed a search warrant at a local hotel room tied to the investigation and recovered the firearm and shell casings, evidence officials say are connected to the shooting.
The incident prompted multiple public safety actions as it unfolded. Grand Traverse County Central Dispatch and Northwestern Michigan College issued temporary shelter in place alerts, advising residents and students to remain indoors while officers secured the scene and conducted searches. Assistance on scene came from the Michigan State Police, the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office, the Traverse City Fire Department, Grand Traverse County Central Dispatch, and Northwestern Michigan College security.
For local residents the episode underscores the potential for property crimes to quickly escalate into violent confrontations and the ripple effects such incidents have on daily life. Shelter in place alerts disrupted routines for nearby households and brought heightened police presence to parts of the city. The college community experienced temporary restrictions while authorities worked, and nearby businesses and traffic were affected by the deployment of multiple agencies.
Investigators will continue to process evidence collected at the hotel room and in the area where the foot chase and shooting occurred. The charges against the two suspects reflect the seriousness of the confrontation, and the case will proceed through the judicial system in the days ahead. Residents seeking information on safety protocols can refer to Grand Traverse County Central Dispatch updates and Northwestern Michigan College communications for guidance on shelter in place procedures.
The coordinated response by local and state agencies highlights interagency cooperation in rapidly evolving public safety incidents, and the recovery of a firearm and shell casings will be central to determining the precise sequence of events that night.
