Tracey Broyles Obituary, Death – Police have identified the grandmother who was fatally shot on the southeast side of Grand Rapids on Thursday night. The victim, 55-year-old Tracey Broyles, was pronounced dead, and the Kent County Medical Examiner has classified her death as a homicide.
The shooting occurred around 7 p.m. on Pastiche Drive SE, near Eastern Avenue. Grand Rapids Police Department (GRPD) Chief Eric Winstrom reported that the incident followed an argument that took place outside an apartment building. Both Broyles and two men in their 30s were injured in the shooting.
According to Winstrom, Broyles was not only a grandmother but also the mother of the two men who were shot. Thankfully, those men are currently recovering from their injuries.
Investigators are exploring the possibility that the shooting may have been drug-related or stemmed from ongoing disputes, including conflicts fueled by social media interactions. Winstrom mentioned that in the past, he has seen similar motivations behind violent incidents, often triggered by personal insults exchanged online.
The GRPD is urging the community to allow detectives to handle the investigation and emphasized that it does not appear Broyles was the intended target of the shooting.
“These individuals likely knew each other. It’s unclear whether they were masked or if the victims could identify them at the time,” Winstrom noted. He expressed concerns about the potential for retaliation in such circumstances.
The GRPD’s Major Case Team is actively investigating the shooting. Authorities are encouraging anyone with information to reach out, either by calling GRPD at 616-456-3400 or contacting Silent Observer at 616-774-2345. The community’s cooperation is vital for bringing clarity to this tragic event.