Story updated –

On Thursday evening, January 7, 2021, Dowagiac Police began an investigation into a homicide that occurred at the Hillcrest Apartments in Dowagiac. Officers located a male subject deceased from an obvious gunshot wound in an apartment at the complex. Dowagiac Police developed a suspect in the shooting who was identified as the girlfriend of the victim. Officers learned that the suspect and victim argued on Monday, 1/4/2021, and that the victim was shot during this argument. The suspect and another roommate solicited help from another acquaintance of theirs to dispose of the victims body. The suspects were unable to remove the body and left him in the apartment in a trash dumpster and fled the area. Police were able to locate the suspects at a residence in South Bend, Indiana and with the help of South Bend Police and South Bend Police SWAT the suspects were taken into custody.

Police arrested the suspects, a 39 year old female from Dowagiac, and a 41 year old female from Mishawaka, Indiana, that was staying at the apartment. Both suspects have been lodged in Indiana. Charges for open murder are pending from the Cass County Prosecutor’s Office. The names of the suspects are being withheld pending charges being filed. Dowagiac Police were assisted in this investigation by Detectives with the Cass County Drug Enforcement Team, Detectives with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Pokagon Tribal Police, Michigan State Police, and the South Bend Police Department.

Dowagiac Police ask anyone with information from this incident to call Dowagiac Police at (269) 782-9743, or the Cass County Tip Line at (800) 462-9328.

(1-8-21) On Thursday, January 7, 2021, at approximately 4:30 P.M., Dowagiac Police were provided information of a possible homicide that had occurred in an apartment at Hillcrest Apartments in Dowagiac within the last two days.

Upon receiving this information Officers obtained a search warrant for the apartment. Upon execution of the search warrant officers located a 43 year old male subject inside of the apartment who was deceased from an apparent violent injury. It was determined through the investigation that the victim lived at this apartment.

No further details will be released at this time as this is an on-going investigation.

The Dowagiac Police Department does not believe that the public is in danger as a result of this incident. This incident is also not related to the shooting incident that the Dowagiac Police Department investigated on Tuesday morning of this week.

The name of the victim is being withheld until family is notified.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Dowagiac Police Department at (269) 782-9743, or the Cass County Tip Line at 800-462-9328. Dowagiac

Police were assisted by Detectives from the Cass County Drug Enforcement Team and Detectives from the Cass County Sheriff’s Office with this investigation.