KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Update (6:15 p.m.) – The Michigan State Police has provided an update to this case, confirming the identity of the suspect and his cause of death.
The suspect was identified as 35-year-old Alex Rawls of Kalamazoo. The standoff is said to have begun around 10:45 a.m. Monday and lasted until about 3 a.m. Tuesday morning.
Police say Rawls had shot at police officers multiple times while barricaded inside a home on Washington Avenue. No officers were injured, but a vehicle and shed containing officers were struck.
Shots were returned by a KDPS officer and Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Deputy, which struck Rawls an undetermined number of times.
Officers then used a drone to survey the house, which confirmed he had been neutralized. He was located deceased on the second floor.
Police say that an investigation will now be launched into this incident, including an autopsy and toxicology analysis. It will then be forwarded to the Kalamazoo County Prosecutor’s office for review.
Meanwhile, the two officers have been placed on paid administrative leave, as is department policy.
Update (2:00 p.m.) – Police in Kalamazoo confirmed that the suspect in this case has died after a long standoff that began Monday morning.
Police had been searching for a suspect that was wanted in a shooting that happened on November 1. The victim in that case was said to be in stable condition after receiving medical treatment.
Over the course of the standoff, gunfire was exchanged, but police said no injuries were reported. Efforts to get inside included demolition of the house, which the suspect did not live at, police said.
It is unknown at this time how and when the suspect died, but police confirmed his death on Tuesday.
The case remains under investigation at this time. WKZO will update this space as more information becomes available.
— Original Story —
Kalamazoo Police remained on scene at a home where a stand-off with a suspect began Monday and has continued into Tuesday morning.
We’ve received reports that SWAT teams deployed tear-gas, K-9 units, and even conducted a partial demolition of the home in the 1500 block of Washington Ave.. Gunshots have been fired at different points during the stand-off, including around 2:30 this morning, but no injuries have been reported.
A warrant had been issued for the suspect, who has not been identified, in a shooting that took place during a dispute on Ransom Road that left a woman injured on November 1.
Police located the suspect at the Washington Ave. home on Monday and have been on the scene ever since. We will provide more updates when they are made available.
