Grand Rapids, Mich. — A series of car meetups in Grand Rapids over the weekend resulted in significant traffic disruptions and a late-night shooting, according to local authorities.
Just after midnight on Sunday, drivers on I-96 westbound near US-131 experienced heavy delays as a large group of vehicles blocked the highway. Videos captured by a local news viewer showed cars performing donuts and revving their engines in the middle of the road, causing a standstill that lasted until police cleared the area shortly after 12:15 a.m.
However, the disturbances did not end there. Around 2:40 a.m., officers responded to reports of gunfire near The Shops at Centerpoint, where another car meetup was taking place. Police confirmed that one individual was shot during the incident, but their injuries are not considered life-threatening.
Witnesses described the scene as chaotic, with reports of drag racing and loud screeching tires. “They came in about 2 o’clock started doing their drag racing,” one witness said. “It sounded like gunshots, cars screeching tires and all of that.”
The Kent County Sheriff’s Office noted that these “street takeovers” and illegal car meetups have become common in Grand Rapids and surrounding areas such as Wyoming and Kentwood, especially as warmer weather arrives. These events are often organized quickly via social media and typically feature high-speed burnouts, donuts, and large crowds that block roads.
Local law enforcement officials acknowledged the challenge these meetups present, stating that they occur frequently during warmer months, often at least once a weekend. Police have intensified efforts to hold organizers accountable, with GRPD Chief Eric Winstrom emphasizing that those coordinating the events cannot evade responsibility for the dangerous and illegal activities that follow.
“Sometimes the leaders will say something like, ‘I’m not committing a crime, I’m just organizing the activity and what people do when they’re there, that’s their responsibility,’” Winstrom said in a statement last year. “At some point in time, that argument doesn’t really hold true anymore.”
Police have expressed willingness to pursue civil lawsuits in coordination with the city attorney’s office against organizers identified through investigations.
The Grand Rapids Police Department also urged parents to ensure their teens and young adults are safe, particularly during late-night hours when these meetups are most common.
The shooting incident remains under active investigation.
