Suspect in Deerfield Village shooting taken into custody
The Isabella County Sheriff's Office has taken a suspect into custody for the April 24 shooting at Deerfield Village apartments, according to a press release from the Isabella County Sheriff's Office.
Detroit resident Kenneth Thomas was arrested Tuesday on a 10-count felony warrant. Thomas is believed to have played a role in the shooting.
Central Michigan University junior Johnathan Keller, 21, and senior Tyler Bunting, 23, have been confirmed as victims in the April 24 shooting at Deerfield Village Apartments, President Bob Davies said in an April 25 email to campus.
Mount Pleasant police were dispatched to the apartment complex after receiving word of gunshots fired at an off-campus party around 1 a.m. Saturday morning.
Thomas is believed to have been at the party for a short time before a fight broke out. During the fight, Thomas went to his vehicle, retrieved a gun and fired upon returning to the party.
According to the press release, Thomas and several others had come to Mount Pleasant April 23 to socialize at local establishments. After the establishments closed, Thomas and others heard about the gathering at Deerfield.
The press release states that Thomas and his accomplices have no connection to Central Michigan University or the Mount Pleasant area.
Both Keller and Bunting were taken to regional hospitals after sustaining single gunshot wounds, according to an April 24 press release. Bunting was transported to Midland and remains in stable condition. Keller, a member of the Central Michigan football team, was airlifted to Hurley Medical Center in Flint and is improving.
Keller's father, Ray, said his son is in stable condition and "moving in the right direction." He is still on a ventilator, and the next step in the recovery process will be getting off of it.
Ray posted an update to Twitter April 27.
A GoFundMe has been organized to help Keller's family with medical expenses.
Head football coach Jim McElwain called the shooting "senseless" and "not needed" in his meeting with media on Monday.
"Obviously we’re all shaken," McElwain said. "It really shakes you when it comes to the core of people that are you’re so closely involved with. And all we can do is be very supportive to John and his family as we move forward."
