On November 13, 2022, Jeremy "Dubs" Alvarez shot his partner MorningStar Shines Pelcher and their two young sons at a residence on the Isabella Indian Reservation in Chippewa Township, Michigan, before fatally shooting himself. Asa's younger brother Alonzo (age 2) died from his injuries. Asa, age 3, was transported to Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids, where he underwent surgery to remove his colon and part of his intestine but continued to suffer from internal bleeding and loss of oxygen to his brain and leg. Asa died on November 17, 2022, from medical complications of a gunshot wound to the left groin/abdomen. His mother survived after undergoing surgery on her arm.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
The medical examiner report (MI_22_1529.pdf) identifies the cause of death as "Medical complications of gunshot wound of left groin/abdomen." The mlive article states that "Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Police have said they responded to a Chippewa Township residence for a domestic disturbance involving gunshots." Multiple sources confirm this was a firearm incident.
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The medical examiner report (MI_22_1529.pdf) states the immediate cause of death was "Medical complications of gunshot wound of left groin/abdomen" with the description "Decreased shot by other person." The Morning Sun article reports that "a man reportedly shot her and two of her children." The child was shot by his father, which constitutes an inflicted injury.
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
The Morning Sun article describes it as "an alleged murder-suicide at the Isabella Indian Reservation." The mlive article states police "arrived to find the suspect dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Also present were three shooting victims, one of whom died." The father, Jeremy "Dubs" Alvarez, shot the mother and two children before fatally shooting himself.
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
The Morning Sun article states: "The suspect in the shooting incident is reported by family to be Jeremy Alvarez, the father of the two children." The mlive article confirms: "The two boys' father, Jeremy 'Dubs' Alvarez, was the shooter who killed himself." The biological father perpetrated the shooting that killed this child.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The mlive article states police "responded to a Chippewa Township residence for a domestic disturbance involving gunshots." The father shot the mother and two children in what is clearly a domestic violence incident. The mlive article also quotes a relative: "MorningStar will have to live with the fact her baby boy is gone, the father to her kids has also passed during the traumatic event and her other baby boy is fighting for his life."
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
Several notable contextual details emerge from these documents. First, this shooting occurred on the Isabella Indian Reservation, making it a tribal jurisdiction matter investigated by Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Police. Second, The Morning Sun reports this was "the second shooting on the reservation in within eight days, as well as the second attack in which a non-Native person shot a child and their mother," pointing to a disturbing pattern of violence on the reservation during that period. Third, the child survived the initial shooting on November 13 but died on November 17 after undergoing extensive surgery, including removal of his colon and part of his intestine, and suffering "internal bleeding" and "a loss of oxygen to his brain and leg" per the mlive article. The perpetrator killed himself at the scene, so no criminal charges could be pursued for the child's death.
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