Man Dead After Breaking Into Oakland Co. Home Where Ex Lived: Sheriff

ORION TOWNSHIP, MI — An armed man was shot and killed Wednesday after breaking into an Orion Township home where his ex-girlfriend lived, according to the Oakland County Sheriff's Office.

Police said 67-year-old Galen Gavitt of Unionville, used an axe to break a back window of a home on Elkhorn Road near Pine Tree Road at 10:10 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Gavitt, who was carrying a .38 caliber revolver, entered the home looking for his 62-year-old ex-girlfriend, whom he had a relationship with before it went sour, according to the sheriff's office.

The woman, who had a valid personal protection order against Gavitt, barricaded herself inside an upstairs bedroom with her 36-year-old stepson while Gavitt roamed the house threatening to kill them, according to the sheriff's office.

As the stepson was holding the door to block Gavitt from coming in, Gavitt fired a gunshot through the door and the stepson fell to the ground, according to the sheriff's office.

Gavitt entered the bedroom and pointed the revolver at the stepson, who was also armed with a handgun while lying on the bedroom floor, according to the sheriff's office.

Gavitt then stepped over the stepson and tried getting into an adjoining bathroom where the ex-girlfriend was, according to the sheriff's office.

As Gavitt tried getting into the bathroom, the stepson fired a gunshot that struck Gavitt in the head, according to the sheriff's office.

Officials tried performing life-saving measures on Gavitt, but he died, according to the sheriff's office.

The ex-girlfriend and the stepson were not injured in the incident, according to the sheriff's office.

In addition to the personal protection order, the ex-girlfriend got an extreme risk protection order issued against Gavitt last month after concerning behavior involving threats and a firearm, according to the sheriff's office.

The order fell under Michigan’s "red flag" laws, and two weapons were then confiscated from Gavitt’s home in Tuscola County on June 12, according to the sheriff's office.

Police were still trying to determine where Gavitt obtained the revolver from that he used in this incident.

Police are still investigating the incident.

If you or someone you know needs help with domestic violence, call the Michigan Domestic Violence Hotline at 866-864-2338.