1 dead, 1 wounded after suspected shootout outside Mt Clemens July 4 party

MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. (WJBK) - Police are asking the public for help finding who killed 24-year-old Charlie McGowan. 

The Macomb County Sheriff's Office said someone shot the young man and another woman at a Fourth of July block party in Mount Clemens.

"Estimates are there were about 30 to 70 people in attendance at this party," said Sheriff Anthony Wickersham. 

The city's first shooting of the year fatally wounded McGowan and injuring a 26-year-old woman both from Clinton Township. The acquaintances were shot attending the outdoor party on Court and Clemens streets Wednesday.

"There was multiple rounds fired," Wickersham said. "We believe there was more than just one shooter."

The Macomb County Sheriff's Office says bullets started flying a little after midnight Thursday. Partygoers called 911, but when deputies arrived they were unable to find any victims.

"They located two shell casings in and around that same area, and some blood in two different locations," Wickersham said.

Police soon learned that McGowan had been shot in the abdomen, while standing outside on Court Street.

"He dropped right after being shot and was loaded into a car and driven to the hospital," Wickersham said.

McGowan died at the hospital, while police learned the 26-year-old woman had been shot in the leg while sitting in a car with her boyfriend at the other end of the block.

That woman underwent surgery and is expected to be okay.
 
"There is that possibility there may have been a gunfight in the middle of the street," Wickersham said.

Deputies discovered 17 shell casings from three different guns. Investigators also found a van believed to be one of the shooters' at a home in Clinton Township.
 
"That van has multiple gunshots, bullet holes in it," Wickersham said.

Police Thursday developed three persons of interest already known to deputies in the area. And they believe that all are well-known to McGowan.

"We believe there's a relationship, possibly a feud, between our victim and the persons of interest," Wickersham said.

Police are meeting with community leaders -- and stepping up patrols Thursday night concerned about retaliation.

"We know people have witnessed what transpired," Wickersham said. "But we are getting very little cooperation."