Three shot at South Haven pier, 2 dead

SOUTH HAVEN, Mich. — Three people were shot on the South Beach pier in South Haven on Friday afternoon.

South Haven Police Chief Natalie Thompson confirmed two were dead, one was the shooter. A woman was sent to the hospital and then airlifted in critical condition. A jet ski in Lake Michigan was also hit with a bullet, but the driver was not injured.

Thompson said it didn't appear that the shooter and the victims knew each other, but police were still investigating and trying to identify the people involved.

“Random acts of violence of this nature, at least in this area, are very rare,” Thompson said.

Video from a beach camera appeared to show three people near the edge of the pier. One person then fell at the end of the pier. A second person dropped down to the ground, then the third person appeared walk toward the beach before dropping onto the pier.

Van Buren County Sheriff Marine deputies blocked the channel into Black River as Allegan and Van Buren dive teams searched the area for any other victims. Thompson said none were found.

Several people were then seen running off the South Haven pier about 2:15 p.m. Friday and Thompson confirmed that was when the shooting took place.

"All of the sudden people came running with their kids. Just running, freaking out, crying, it was kind of traumatizing, especially with the parents and the little kids," Jayne Sherwood, who was visiting South Haven, said.

Thompson said there is no active threat to the public.

"We don't want this to become normal in South Haven, because it isn't," Thompson said.

South Haven police responded to South Beach just before 2:30 p.m. Aug. 20.

Video came from News Channel 3's partner Horizon Broadband.

Editor's Note: This story has been updated with the latest information at the time.