Baby Shower Turns Deadly in Kalamazoo

A 22-year-old man faces six felony charges after a shooting at the Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan Kalamazoo Regional Program and Training Center on Sunday evening. The incident occurred during a baby shower when gunfire was fired, injuring two men.

KDPS officers found the suspect hiding in a lower-level closet of the building after the shooting. The incident has left the Girl Scouts facility closed pending investigation.

"I am focused primarily on danger to the community issue. It's been indicated this occurred at the Girl Scout building during a baby shower when shots were fired. I can't imagine anything that's more dangerous to our community and members of our community," Judge Richard A. Santoni told the court during Monday's arraignment.

What Happened

The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety responded to the shooting shortly before 6 p.m. on April 12 at 601 W. Maple Street. Two 25-year-old men were struck by gunfire and taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

KDPS Spokesman Zach Hamelton confirmed the injuries were not believed to be life threatening. The suspect, Pharrell Stacy, was 22 years old and was taken into custody at the scene.

According to police reports, Stacy admitted to shooting one victim after that man showed up to the baby shower and began punching him repeatedly. Stacy told police he did not see a gun before he shot the man in the chest and lower body.

Another man was shot in both legs during the incident, police said. Both men sustained non-life-threatening injuries, according to KDPS.

The Investigation

Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan posted on Facebook around 6:40 p.m. stating they were working with KDPS on the incident. The organization said the shooting happened when an outside group was renting their building.

>No staff or Girl Scout members were harmed during the incident, the organization said.

The building is secure and will be closed until further notice pending police investigations, according to Girl Scouts officials.

Officers and a K9 unit were actively searching the area for the suspect. News Channel 3 also observed a drone deployed at the scene. By 6:30 p.m. a crime lab arrived and a majority of the emergency responders left.

A little before 8 p.m., KDPS officers confirmed they arrested a 22-year-old man in connection to the shooting.

Court Proceedings

Pharrell Stacy was arraigned Monday afternoon on six counts related to the Sunday evening shooting. His charges include:

  • Two counts of assault with intent to murder
  • One count of discharge of a weapon in a building causing injury

Judge Richard A. Santoni ordered Stacy to be held on a $100,000 cash or surety bond, pointing to the threat he may pose to the community.

Stacy was arrested at the scene without incident after police found him hiding in a lower-level closet, KDPS said.

Community Impact

The Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan regional center serves as a program and training facility for local troops. The closure has disrupted activities for the organization while the investigation continues.

Anyone with information is asked to contact KDPS at (269) 337-8139 or Silent Observer at (269) 343-2100.

The investigation remains active and additional information will be released as it becomes available.