Saline Police respond to active shooter

Saline Police along with other emergency personnel responded to an active shooter situation on August 3. 

That situation has now turned into a homicide case.

As the day went on, the Saline Police Department issued multiple updates on the situation, with the last one of the day coming late on Aug. 3, announcing:

"Sadly, the female victim from the shooting incident this morning did not survive her injuries. She has been identified as Amber Jo Thomas, age 40, of Lenawee County. This case is now being investigated as a homicide."

Earlier that evening, in a statement released to the press, the Saline Police Department said:

"At 11:35 a.m. today, August 3, 2023, Saline Police Departments Dispatch Center received the first of several calls about an active shooter in the 600 block of Woodland Dr. Saline Officers arrived on scene and determined there were two victims with gunshot wounds in the parking lot of the former UAW Hall located at 601 Woodland Dr. E., Saline MI."

"The suspect had fled the scene in a tan colored 4 door Ford Focus. A short time later as assisting police agencies were heading to the scene a Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Deputy came upon a crash at S. Ann Arbor and Willis roads with the at-fault driver/vehicle matching the description of the shooting suspect. The suspect did not comply with commands and the deputy deployed his taser, subsequently taking the suspect into custody. The driver of the vehicle that was struck was transported to the hospital via Huron Valley Ambulance with non-life-threatening injuries. Michigan State Police investigated this crash scene."

"The two victims in the shooting, a male and a female, were transported to the hospital via Huron Valley Ambulance. The female victim, as of 3:30 p.m. on this date is in critical condition and the male victim is in stable condition. The female victim and the suspect were previously in a domestic relationship. The two victims were casual acquaintances. The female victim is 40 years of age from Lenawee County, male victim is a 67-year-old from the Saline area and the suspect is 58 years of age from Lenawee County. The female victim in the crash is a 38-year-old out of Jackson County."

"This is currently an active investigation and will be forwarded to the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office for charges."

"On behalf of the Saline Police Department, we would like to extend our gratitude to the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office, Pittsfield Township Police Department, Ann Arbor Police Department, Michigan State Police, University of Michigan Department of Public Safety, ATF and the FBI for their support and continued assistance in this investigation."

Prior to this news release, the Saline Police posted this on its Facebook page on Aug. 3:

"1:08 p.m. UPDATE: The Saline Police Department can confirm the events which took place this morning involved a single shooter. The incident unfolded in the parking lot of the UAW Local 892 adjacent to Linden Square Assisted Living Center. Two individuals were injured in the shooting. At this time, one is in critical condition, and one is in stable condition. The suspect was apprehended after a vehicular pursuit."

Here is the department’s previous post:
"Saline Police responded to an active shooter situation at Linden Square Assisted Living Center. Additional details are forthcoming. City and school facilities went on a temporary lock down in response. At this time, it is believed there is no further threat to the community."