Suspect in Niles shooting apprehended

Published 9:19 am Thursday, May 14, 2015

The main suspect in a shooting that left a Niles woman critically injured was apprehended by U.S. Marshalls Tuesday.

According to the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department, Michael Jerome Exom, III, was taken into custody without incident at a residence on the west side of South Bend, Indiana.

Michael Jerome Exom

Michael Jerome Exom

Exom is currently facing charges in Berrien County of attempted murder, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and unlawful imprisonment.

The charges stem from a shooting March 22 at Aaron’s Mini Storage in Niles that left a 24-year-old woman critically wounded.

After an investigation, the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department named Exom as the main suspect. Police said Exom allegedly shot the woman, who was his girlfriend, during a domestic argument.

Exom escaped apprehension for a month and a half before U.S. Marshalls, who were working with local and federal law enforcement agencies, caught him.

The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department said the U.S. Marshall Service received information about Exom’s location, which led to his arrest.

Exom was lodged in a jail in St. Joseph County, Indiana, where he is facing a charge of domestic battery.

Jessica McBrier, of the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office, said Exom was scheduled to be arraigned on that charge Wednesday afternoon.

Capt. Robert Boyce, of the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department, said it is unclear when Exom will face charges in Michigan.

Boyce said if Exom waives extradition, he could be brought to Berrien County within a few days. If he fights extradition, Boyce said it could take a couple months.