Veteran tackles suspect threatening to shoot people near Western Michigan University

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WWMT) -- An armed suspect was taken into custody after threatening to shoot a crowd and being tackled by a military veteran, the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety said.

Officers responded to a report of a fight where a man flashed a gun around 2 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019, on West Michigan Avenue just west of Howard Street.

The department said multiple officers arrived quickly as they were already in the area on a directed patrol.

When they got to the address, officers said they found a suspect being held on the ground by a military veteran.

Witnesses told police the suspect flashed a gun during a fight and said he was going to "shoot everybody."

Police said as the suspect ran toward the crowd, the veteran tackled the suspect and held him on the ground until police could arrive.

Officers found a loaded handgun on the suspect, according to a news release.

The suspect was identified as a 32-year-old man from Milford, Ohio. Police said he was taken into custody on multiple felony charges related to the incident.

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Six days before this incident, police responded to a felonious assault reported a few blocks west of Saturday's fight.

Afterwards, an online poll surfaced showing a majority felt less safe in Kalamazoo.

Police addressed concerns about safety around Western Michigan University and what they're doing to combat crime in the area.