Teens spared by a bowling ball in freeway shooting; gunman splits

Written By: bowlingball.com | Written On: Monday, November 10, 2008 | Updated On: Thursday, August 13, 2020

I just read an interesting article on freep.com about how a bowling ball may have saved a teens life in a highway shooting.

As quoted from "Teens spared by a bowling ball in freeway shooting; gunman splits" on freep.com.

A bowling ball likely spared some Detroit teens from being shot in a freeway run-in.

The ball, which one of the teens held on his lap, stopped a bullet fired from an SUV on eastbound I-94 near Allard.

Harper Woods Deputy Police Chief Jim Burke said he didn't know Thursday why the 15-year-old had the ball, but said it prevented a bullet fired by a man driving a newer-model royal blue Saturn Vue from striking the teens about 9 p.m. Monday.

He said five males, riding in a red Ford Fusion, approached I-94 from Cadieux. As they merged, the SUV approached from behind. When the Fusion changed lanes, the SUV pulled up on the right, and its driver pointed a handgun and fired a shot.

The bullet went through the rear passenger door and hit the ball, which was in a bag, Burke said. He said a teen in the backseat was struck by a piece of plastic from inside the car. The SUV exited at Vernier, Burke said.

The suspects were described as white males, 25-35 years old. The driver had short brown curly hair with a large bald spot, a goatee and mustache. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 313-343-2530.