Armed Gunman Fires at Officers - Suspect Apprehended

WATERSMEET, MI - Wednesday, October 20, 2010 - 6:50 AM - At approximately 2:40 a.m. this morning, Lac Vieux Desert Tribal Police Officers responded to a call of man armed with a shotgun reported to be at the Tribal Center on reservation grounds.

Upon approaching the Tribal Center, the officers were fired upon by an unidentified male. The suspect then fled on foot. Responding Officers were not injured.

At this time, all available officers county wide including the Gogebic / Iron County Emergency Response Team are searching for the suspect.

Watersmeet Twp School has been put on a (2) hour delay at this time and it may be extend.

Lac Vieux Desert Daycare and Tribal Offices are closed. The Casino is open with security forces on high alert.

Watersmeet Township residents are advised to lock their homes and remain indoors until further information is released.

At this time the suspect is presumed to be on foot, armed and dangerous. Anyone observing anything or anyone suspicious should call 911 immediately.

Further details will be released when available.

7:00 AM UPDATE: The search for the suspect is continuing by all available officers. Watersmeet Schools have been canceled for the day.

7:30 AM UPDATE: Per Incident Commmand - Suspect is in custody........

8:30 AM UPDATE: - WATERSMEET, MI - Wednesday, October 20, 2010 - At approximately 2:40 a.m. this date, Lac Vieux Desert Tribal Police Officers responded to a call of a man armed with a shotgun reported to be at the Tribal Center on reservation grounds.

Upon approaching the Tribal Center, the officers were fired upon by an unidentified male. The suspect then fled on foot. Responding officers were not injured.

All available officers County wide including the Gogebic/Iron Emergency Response Team were activated to search for the suspect.

Watersmeet Township Schools and all Tribal Offices were closed for the day, with the Casino remaining open on high security alert.

A large and coordinated search for the suspect began and at approximately 0720 hrs, the suspect was located on the reservation and surrendered to searching officers without incident.

We are not releasing the identity of the suspect at this time pending further investigation.

Along with the Lac Vieux Desert Tribal Police, cooperating agencies were as follows:

The Gogebic County Sheriff's Department, Michigan State Police, Ironwood Public Safety Department, Gogebic/Iron Emergency Response Team, Marenisco Township Police Department, Iron County Wisconsin Sheriff's Department, Hurley Wisconsin Police Department, United States Forest Service Law Enforcement, Michigan Department of Corrections Emergency Response Team, Watersmeet Township First Responders, Conover Wisconsin Ambulance and Beacon Ambulance Personnel.

Agents from the Bureau of Indian Affairs have been contacted and the Federal Bureau of Investigations Agents are currently enroute to Watersmeet.