Obituaries
Man Who Opened Fire on Border Patrol Was West Bloomfield Marine
Aaron Andrew Furness, 38, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Michigan State Police said Wednesday.
The Virginia man who opened fire on U.S. Border Patrol agents on Drummond Island in Chippewa County last week was a Marine from West Bloomfield.
Aaron Andrew Furness, 38, died of a self-inflicted wound Sept. 24, the Michigan State Police said Wednesday in a statement. He was found dead about eight hours after the exchange of gunfire.
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The agents had been searching for Furness, who had been reported missing Wednesday, Sept. 23, and was believed to be in the area.
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The agents returned fire as Furness retreated into the cabin. After unsuccessful attempts to contact Furness inside the cabin, police made entry and found his body.
Furness served 19 years with the Marines, including a tour in Iraq from 2007 to 2008, and was a U.S. Marine gunnery sergeant based at Quantico, VA, according to ObitsForLife.com.
He is survived by his wife, Heather; a son, Lucas; his mother, Mary Furness; brothers James and Nicholas (Jill); and grandmothers Ruth Sprague and Shirley Furness.
He was preceded in death by his father, Ted, and a brother, Kyle.
His funeral was held Wednesday.
(Additional reporting by Patch Regional Editor Greg Hambrick)
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