By Jim Bloch
Three children were shot in the city of Port Huron in the early morning hours of Sept. 11. One of the children died; two remain hospitalized. Police have arrested the kids’ father.
“On Thursday, September 11, 2025, at 6:10 a.m., the Port Huron Police Department responded to the 2800 block of Glenview Court following multiple 911 calls reporting that individuals had been shot,” said Assistant Police Jeremy Young in a Facebook post. “Officers arrived and located three victims, all under the age of 18, suffering from gunshot wounds. Officers immediately provided emergency medical aid before the victims were transported to local hospitals. Tragically, a 17-year-old male victim was later pronounced deceased. A 13-year-old male and a 12-year-old female remain in critical but stable condition and have been transferred to Detroit-area hospitals for further treatment. The suspect, a 44-year-old male and the father of the victims, was taken into custody at the scene without incident.”
The department provided an update Sept. 12.
“The suspect is currently lodged at the St. Clair County Jail on an unrelated warrant and is awaiting arraignment,” said Young. “At this time, we anticipate that the arraignment will take place on Tuesday, September 16th. The 13-year-old victim is stable, and his condition has improved, while the 12-year-old victim remains in stable condition.”
Young underlined the horror inherent in the shootings.
“This incident is a tremendous tragedy, and words cannot fully convey the sadness we feel for the victims, their families, and their friends,” he said. “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the first responders who, without hesitation and at significant personal risk, entered the residence, apprehended the suspect, and immediately provided lifesaving medical care until EMS arrived. We would also like to thank the agencies that assisted us in this response, including the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department, Michigan State Police, Tri-Hospital EMS, and the Port Huron Fire Department.”
The incident took place near Holland Woods Middle School.
Principal Jillian Bertich and Port Huron Schools Superintendent Theo Kerhoulas issued a statement saying that the school remained open Sept. 12, according to the Times Herald.
Police “assured us that schools could safely open on schedule, as the suspect was already in custody,” said the pair of educators in the statement. “School will remain in session today. We know many students would otherwise be home alone, and we believe it is best to keep them in an environment where we can provide support and care. We have the
district social work and counseling teams on site to support our students. That said, families are welcome to sign their children out if they are able to and feel it is best.”
Kerhoulas and Bertich said that the school will provide “guidance and resources to help families talk with their children. Please keep our students and school community in your thoughts and prayers.”
St. Clair County Community Mental Health suggested visiting the National Child Traumatic Stress Network’s website for tips about discussing the incident with children: https://www.nctsn.org/…/pfa_when_terrible_things_happen…
“Our hearts are with all those impacted by this morning’s tragic shooting in Port Huron,” said the CMH on its Facebook page. “We are grateful to our partners at the Port Huron Police Department for recognizing the importance of mental health resources and highlighting the role of SCCCMH’s embedded clinician, who is supporting first responders in the aftermath. As our community processes this tragedy, we must remember: mental illness does not equal violence. Most individuals living with mental health conditions are not violent. Linking the two only deepens stigma and keeps people from seeking help.”
Amid the heartbreak, the police department assured residents that the shooting was “an isolated incident, and there is no ongoing threat to the community.”
Jim Bloch is a freelance writer based in St. Clair, Michigan. Contact him at bloch.jim@gmail.com
