SHELBY TOWNSHIP, Oceana County — The Oceana County Sheriff is investigating an apparent murder-suicide after a mother was found dead and her 10-year-old son was found with a gunshot wound to the head.
Her son was taken to Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids in critical condition. On Tuesday, police said tests showed he had no brain activity, and is considered deceased.
It happened in a rural area on Baseline Road in Shelby Township.
The mother, identified as 38-year-old Melissa Anewishki, first allegedly shot her son, Ethan Anewishki, in the head before turning the gun upon herself, police say.
Deputies responded to reports of gunfire after 6 p.m. Monday in the 2300 block of Baseline Road.
She had been dealing with anxiety and depression.
"They were very heroic in trying to save a young boy’s life,” Mast said. “This really comes down to a mental health situation. We’ve got a chronic mental health situation going on. It’s a real thing. If you know someone who’s dealing with that, struggling with that, try to get them some help.”
It was reportedly a friend who dialed 911 after going to check on the family and hearing the sound of gunshots, Sheriff Craig Mast related.
The mother was pronounced dead at the scene, which Mast described as "gruesome."
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