Michael, a 21-year-old Michigan man, was arrested last week and charged with the first-degree murder of his girlfriend, 23-year-old Rachel. The incident occurred at their shared Michigan residence.
According to Michigan authorities, at about 4 p.m., the defendant contacted 911 to say that he had accidentally shot himself and his girlfriend while cleaning his pistol. When deputies arrived, they discovered the man dead from a gunshot wound to the neck at close range. Authorities suspect that the same bullet that killed his girlfriend caused the non-fatal gunshot wound the shooter sustained.
An infant, the couple’s shared 6-month-old child, was present in the home during the incident but was unharmed. The defendant was arrested without incident and is currently being held without bond in the county jail. He is charged with murder as well as felony handgun possession.
County Prosecutor McDonald described the case as a domestic violence tragedy, emphasizing the death of a young woman and the consequences for her child and loved ones. Sheriff Michael praised the investigation team for revealing the truth about the occurrence, which initially appeared to be an accident.
Deputies arrived at the scene and discovered both the victim and the shooter inside the home. The woman was shot in the neck at close range and pronounced dead on the scene.
Authorities later indicated that the evidence did not support the defendant’s first claim that the gunshot was an accident. The shooter also received a non-life-threatening gunshot wound, which investigators believe was caused by the same bullet that struck and killed his girlfriend.
The matter is still under investigation as officials gather evidence and get ready to prosecute. We are not planning the defendant’s next court appearance at this time. ​
