ORION TOWNSHIP, MI — A woman was shot and injured in a random carjacking at an Oakland County strip mall Tuesday, according to sheriff's officials.
The incident happened at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday near the Old Navy store in the Baldwin Commons Plaza in Orion Township, officials said.
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard told reporters a 25-year-old Ann Arbor man was sitting outside the store and watching for a victim.
The man eventually approached a woman, who was walking through the parking lot with her young son, Bouchard said.
Bouchard said there was a confrontation between the two before he shot her in the hip. He then took her keys and drove away from the parking lot in her car, Bouchard said.
The woman, who is in her 40s, was taken to a nearby hospital where she is expected to be ok, Bouchard said.
Using drones and license plate readers, officers spotted the car in Groveland Township where the suspect crashed after a brief chase, Bouchard said.
An undercover agent then arrested the man, Bouchard said.
"It was about an hour and 25 minutes from the time we got the call of the shooting until the handcuffs were on him," Bouchard said.
Officials did not identify the man, but Bouchard said he was on probation for assault with intent to do great bodily harm.
Bouchard said this was a random, isolated incident but reminded people to be aware of their surroundings.
"This is a very safe, quiet community," Bouchard said. "Bad things can happen to good people anywhere, and it's just important for all of us to be aware of that and be situationally aware."
Officials are still investigating the incident and ask anyone with information about this incident to call the Sheriff’s Office at 248-858-4950 or dial 911.
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