ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. (CBS DETROIT) – The Rochester Hills community was overwhelmed by one senseless act of gun violence Saturday night which injured nine people, including two children.
Unfortunately, this is not the first time that Oakland County has responded to this type of violence, as the Oxford High School tragedy remains in recent memory.
Even though that incident helped Rochester Hills agencies take quick action, there are still mental scars that may take longer to heal than any bullet wound.
“I want to encourage anyone who has been traumatized by this event, affected by this event, whether you are an immediate family member, a member of Rochester Hills, or just a member of the community, we want you to seek help,” said Dave Coulter, Oakland County Executive.
Anyone struggling with the aftermath of Saturday’s mass shooting can find help at the Rochester Hills Public Services building.
“The support offered there is debriefing and facilitating connections to long-term supports and services as needed for individuals or families,” said Adam Hamilton, director of Oakland County Health Network Clinical Services.
Because one of the nine victims is only four years old, these services not only help parents talk to their children about what happened, but also show them how to check in to see if everything is okay.
“Especially for younger children you want to be clear and to the point, but you don’t have to go into too much detail. It is very important to emphasize that we are safe now, and that the people who need it to get involved grab it and help with that,” Hamilton said.
Patty Motes raised her children in Rochester Hills for 20 years before moving to Oxford in October 2021. A month later, an active shooter killed four people as he rampaged through Oxford High School. Her connection to both tragedies compelled her to drive back to Rochester Hills to pray for those recovering.
“I pray for them; I pray for full recovery; I pray for the days ahead and the months ahead of what they need to remember. And I just had to say my own prayer, and I thought this was a good place to Do it,” said Oakland County resident Patty Motes.
Part of this recovery also includes efforts to ensure that no one has to experience something like this again.
“We need to get much better at prevention because we’ve gotten too good at responding,” Coulter said.
This type of violence can have far-reaching consequences, even if you don’t live in Oakland County. If you are unable to seek support in person at the Rochester Hills Public Services building, you can still reach the Oakland County Nurse on Call by calling 800-848-5533. The line is open on weekdays from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.
