(WWJ) — A 67-year-old man is dead after being shot by his ex-girlfriend’s stepson Wednesday morning when he broke into a home in Orion Township to attack her.
The man, who Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard identified as Galen Gavitt, had previously had two firearms taken away from him under Michigan’s new so-called red flag law. Bouchard said it's believed that Gavitt stole a gun from his ex-wife that he used in Wednesday’s attack.
It all unfolded around 10 a.m. Wednesday at a home on Elkhorn Lake Road. Authorities say the woman and her stepson hid in an upstairs bedroom after Gavitt broke into the home using an axe.
The stepson, armed with his own gun, was leaning on the bedroom door to keep Gavitt out as the woman hid in an attached bathroom. Gavitt allegedly fired a shot through the door, barely missing the 36-year-old stepson, who took cover on the floor.
When Gavitt entered the room, he pointed a gun at the man and told him “I’m here for her,” Bouchard said at a press conference Wednesday afternoon.
He then moved towards the bathroom where the woman was hiding and the stepson fired a single shot, hitting Gavitt in the head. Deputies attempted life saving measures on Gavitt, but they were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The woman and her stepson were uninjured during the incident.
Bouchard said the stepson’s actions Wednesday morning were justified and saved the woman’s life.
The sheriff said Gavitt and the woman previously lived together for 17 years in Tuscola County before she “sought refuge” with her stepson and his wife at their home in Orion Twp. after their relationship "soured."
Bouchard said Gavitt had previously threatened to kill the woman and that he already had a personal protection order filed against him, as well as an extreme risk protection order — which allows authorities to take away guns under the red flag law — in Tuscola County a month ago.
Gavitt, however, is believed to have stolen his ex-wife’s gun and took it to the home in Orion Twp. to shoot his ex-girlfriend, according to Bouchard.
The sheriff said this is one of the first instances in Michigan in which a person has filed a PPO and ERPO against someone.
"There's a lot of layers that go into that fear when someone's being abused, being threatened. Just know that we're encouraging people that are in that situation to get out as quickly as they can and to seek the support of both law enforcement and public service agencies, counseling, etc.," Bouchard said.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned to WWJ Newsradio for the latest updates as they become available. >>> LISTEN LIVE!
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