Kaden James Ryan Stheiner was an 18-year-old senior at Lapeer High School who was shot and killed on February 2, 2021. He was a White/Caucasian male who studied auto body at the Lapeer County Education and Technology Center, liked working on cars with his father, and enjoyed shoes, video games and Nike apparel.

The shooting occurred at a mobile home park in Metamora Township. Officers from the Metamora Township Police Department performed lifesaving measures and Kaden was taken to Lapeer McLaren Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. What was first reported as an accidental shooting became a homicide investigation led by Metamora Township police with help from the Michigan State Police Forensic Science Division.

A 19-year-old Metamora Township man, Dillon Daniel Downey, was arrested and charged with homicide-manslaughter without malice by the Lapeer County Prosecutor’s Office. More than 100 people later gathered at Rowden Park, releasing purple and black balloons in his memory.

If anyone knew Kaden or was at the scene and can help clarify what happened that night, please share information.