Bryan Bigham, 27, was shot and killed on the evening of October 6, 2015, after a dispute at a mobile home park in Oshtemo Township, Kalamazoo County. According to a 911 recording, the confrontation began after the man who later fired was asked to leave a residence; the caller said that man became aggressive, fought with her and her boyfriend, tried to break windows, and had a firearm. The encounter escalated and ended when Bigham was shot.

The Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office investigated, interviewed witnesses and the shooter, and submitted the case to the county prosecutor. In January 2016 the prosecutor decided not to file criminal charges, concluding the shooter acted in self-defense. Bigham’s family and his girlfriend publicly disputed that finding and said they were left with unanswered questions.