Michigan Man Shoots Wife In Front Of Children, Later Kills Self

A 32-year-old woman was shot dead by her husband Saturday in front of their children in St. Clair County, Michigan. The 34-year-old man later killed himself at the family's home in Kimball Township, Michigan.

Cheryl L. Pilarowski had traveled to Jump N Jam, an indoor play center for children in Marysville, to celebrate her child’s birthday.

Marysville police Deputy Chief Ron Buckmaster said the shooting took place around 5:30 p.m. EST Nov. 11 when the suspect was at Jump N Jam on Gratiot Boulevard, according to the Michigan Live. The incident lead to chaos as there were other children and adults celebrating a birthday party at the play center, Buckmaster explained.

He added there was some confusion initially as to whether the incident was a case of robbery or a targeted attack because there was money scattered on the floor next to Pilarowski.

“We found out that it was her husband who came in and shot her at point-blank range,” Buckmaster said.

The incident took place in front of the couple's 4-year-old child and a 9-year-old child Pilarowski had from a previous relationship. She was rushed to Lake Huron Medical Center in Port Huron where in spite of being given life-saving treatment, she succumbed to injuries.

As soon as the police found where the couple lived, law enforcement personnel surrounded the house.

Buckmaster said, “The suspect’s vehicle was parked in front of the residence and the lights were on.”

He elucidated a search warrant for the property was granted. After inspecting the vehicle, the St. Clair County Sheriff's Office Special Response Team went inside the house where they found the suspect lying dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. The suspect’s name has not been released yet.

Since 1995, this was the first case of homicide in the St. Clair County community of around 10,000 residents.

Buckmaster was taken aback by the incident and said, “I think what bothers me most is that someone would do that in front of their own child.”

He expressed gratitude towards various agencies for their support like the Marysville Fire Department, Port Huron police, City of St. Clair police, St. Clair County Sheriff's Office, Michigan State Police, Michigan Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Border Patrol and Customs.

In a similar incident in September, 38-year-old Brian Kesner killed his ex-wife 28-year-old Krista Copeland in front of their 9-year-old son in a library parking lot in Fort Worth, Texas, according to the US News. He then shot himself in the head. Copeland was taken to a hospital where she died from the gunshot wounds to her head, while Kesner was declared dead in the library’s parking lot itself.