Saturday, April 10, 2010

Kalamazoo, MI: Updated: Murder suicide in Texas Township

2010-04-09 08:27:26

TEXAS TOWNSHIP, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – Two people are dead in an apparent murder-suicide in Kalamazoo County.

The victim and shooter were boyfriend and girlfriend. Their relationship took a deadly turn Thursday night.

"I heard lots of yelling, after a while heard gunshots," said a witness.

Neighbors at the Lotus Townhomes are learning just what happened inside an apartment in the complex Thursday night.

Investigators say 40-year old Michael Cowling pulled a gun on his girlfriend and fired, hitting her in the head.

An off-duty paramedic who was visiting a neighboring apartment rushed to help as a distraught Cowling was outside.

When he heard sirens, Cowling ran back in and threatened to commit suicide.

The paramedic left the home as Cowling held the gun, continuing to threaten suicide.

Cowling was on the phone with a dispatcher as police surrounded the apartment. About fifteen minutes later there was another gunshot.

A SWAT team forced its way into the home. Both Cowling and his girlfriend, 26-year-old Jennifer Bickings, were dead.

Those living in the area say they don't know what the pair was arguing about, but they never expected it would end like this.

"I was shocked it happened around here," said one neighbor.

An autopsy on both Cowling and Bickings will be done in Lansing Friday.

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