KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Detectives in Kalamazoo are trying to figure out who fired multiple shots inside and outside of Club Fire.
The shooting took place Saturday morning around 12:30. The club is located on the 1200 block of Portage Road in the Edison Neighborhood.
A nearby resident heard the gunfire and witnessed the aftermath. Her husband, four young kids, and nephew were also home at the time.
“Oh my God, it’s very scary cause you don’t know. That could have went through the window and killed one of my kids,” the resident said.
She said this is the 4th or 5th violent incident she’s witnessed occur outside of the club this year.
“I’m going to try everything in my power to get the place shut down,” she said.
Kalamazoo police said a yet to be identified 17-year-old girl was shot in the arm. Jeffery Pratt, 30, was shot in the head. He was rushed to Bronson Hospital with critical injuries.
“We don’t know exactly what’s happened except that Jeffery’s been shot. Jeffery’s never going to be with us again, after today,” Deborah Jorgboyan, Pratt’s cousin said.
“Jeffery is right now on life support. He’s not physically gone because he is on life support, giving family and friends time to say goodbye,” Jorgboyan explained.
“There’s no way to put this in perspective for me, for his father, for his brothers, and his sister,” she added.
Pratt also has a 5-year-old son and an infant daughter.
“And he leaves a great void behind him. Jeffery is loved by a lot of people in this town,” Jorgboyan said.
Detectives are trying to piece together what happened before the shooting as Pratt’s family members pull together for support.
“We might fight, we might argue, but differences in the street should not ultimately end [with] someone suffering in death,” Jorgboyan said. “We are all struggling today with the reality of Jeff losing his life.
“In our hearts, we will keep him with us. That’s the most important message,” Jorgboyan added.
FOX 17 reached out to management at Club Fire. They declined to comment at this time. They are cooperating with police in this ongoing investigation.
If you have any information about this, call Kalamazoo Public Safety or Silent Observer at 269-343-2100.
