Police step up patrols after 3 freeway shootings by same suspect

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Extra police patrols are being added to Detroit's freeway system after three shootings that may be linked to the same suspect or suspects.

One man who was struck told FOX 2 he thought someone threw a rock at his car. It wasn't until he stopped at the gas station he realized he had been shot.

Out of the three shootings, that is the only one where the driver was struck. The vehicles of the others were struck. 

"It was crazy. He came in and told me to call the cops," said Emad Alomari, who helped the victim who was hit. "He got shot on the highway. I said, 'Really?' He said yeah." 

The victim, a Chesterfield man, wasn't up for an interview, but showed us where the bullet is still lodged in his leg. He told FOX 2 he was driving on I-94 near Connor around 3 a.m. Thursday when someone shot at his red Chevy sedan. Once he realized what happened, he drove to a gas station on Gratiot.

Surveillance video shows him hobbling into the building where he asked the clerk for help. 

"He thought it was a rock that hit his window," said Alomari. "He heard a big thump sound but he actually got shot and actually felt the pain, he realized it and stopped here."

Alomari called police, who showed up almost immediately. As officers were learning what happened, police say two more freeway shootings happened just minutes apart.

A Northville man was driving home from work on I-96 near Davidson. His vehicle was struck. 

"The individual says he was driving down the road, heard some popping sounds," said Lt. Mike Shaw, Michigan State Police. "He pulled over to the side of the freeway, saw some bullet holes in his car and contacted MSP."

Later Thursday police realized there was a third shooting on the freeway when a Detroit man walked into the Metro south post and told troopers someone also shot at his vehicle within the same time frame and area - at I-96 and Livernois.

At this point, police believe it is the same person randomly shooting at cars on the freeway. Investigators have collected bullets from each scene and evidence has been sent to the crime lab to compare.

But who is behind the bullets, and why is someone randomly shooting at motorists in the middle of the night? Police are working to find out. 

More police are patrolling the freeway, and they want motorists to be aware of their surroundings while driving.

"If anyone was on the freeway at the times they occurred and they did see something we are hoping they call MSP," Shaw said.

Police believe the shooter was driving a boxy gray or silver sedan. so if anyone has information about that as well - call police at (313) 237-2450.