DOWAGIAC — A bar fight turned shooting has left one Dowagiac resident dead, according to the Dowagiac Police Department.

Officers were called around 2:29 a.m. Sunday to the Beeson Street Bar

in Dowagiac for a large fight involving more than two individuals. As police were leaving the station to respond to the call, they heard several shots ring out in the area. When officers arrived on scene, they found one individual, a 42-year-old Dowagiac resident, confirmed in Facebook posts by family members to be Fabian Wesaw, was found dead of a gunshot wound in the parking lot of the Beeson Street Bar. Police have determined that the victim was not the intended target of the gunshot and was not involved in the fight at Beeson Street Bar.

There were no other injuries, according to police.

“When officers arrived on scene, they found a very chaotic scene,” said Director of Public Safety Steve Grinnewald. “There were a lot of people yelling, screaming, running around.”

Police have arrested a 24-year-old Dowagiac man in connection with the fatal shooting. Witnesses reported that an altercation began inside the Beeson Street Bar, which spilled out into the parking lot. The suspect then retrieved an AK-47 from his vehicle, but was unable to load the weapon. After leaving the scene to load his weapon, the suspect returned and fired the AK-47 into a crowd.

The suspect fled the scene prior to officer arrival, but police located him on W. Telegraph Street. After a short foot chase, the suspect was arrested and taken into custody, Grinnewald said.

The name of the suspect is being withheld at this time.

If anyone has any information regarding the shooting, Grinnewald said he encourages them to contact at the Dowagiac Police Department at (269) 782-9743.