Authorities have released the names of two men who drowned in Lake Michigan in Port Sheldon Township on June 13.
The Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office identified the men as Philip LoChirco, 24, of Warrenville, Illinois, and Jalen Shaffer, 26, of Grand Rapids. The men were part of a group of acquaintances staying in the area for a “social gathering,” according to OCSO.
The incident took place around 1:13 p.m. June 13 near the south pier of the Pigeon Lake Channel.
According to police, some members of the group jumped from the pier and LoChirco began having difficulty in the water. When others from the group jumped into the water to assist him, Shaffer also began to struggle.
The group was eventually able to pull one of the men from the water, while bystanders assisted with flotation devices and called 911. Public safety officials from several departments arrived on scene and were able to bring the second man to shore. Despite life-saving efforts, both men were pronounced dead.
An investigation is ongoing, but the incident is “not believed to be suspicious,” according to OCSO.
WOOD TV-8 reported Shaffer is a graduate of NorthPointe Christian High School who went on to play football at Wheaton College — which is roughly eight miles northeast of Warrenville, Illinois. Previous team rosters on the school’s athletics website confirm Shaffer and LoChirco were teammates for several years.
The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project previously indicated 18 fatal drownings in the Great Lakes in 2026, including eight in Lake Michigan.
— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Lake Michigan drowning victims were former college football teammates
Reporting by Mitchell Boatman, Holland Sentinel / The Holland Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Mitchell Boatman, Holland Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
