GoFundMe launched for Kalamazoo family whose home was demolished during standoff

KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – A Kalamazoo home was demolished earlier this week due to the occurrence of a standoff with a wanted suspect.

The suspect was identified as 35-year-old Alex Rawls of Kalamazoo. The standoff is said to have begun around 10:45 a.m. Monday and lasted until about 3 a.m. Tuesday morning.

Rawls had been wanted in connection to a shooting that happened on Ransom Road earlier this month.

He is said to have opened fire at police officers, who shot back and struck him an undetermined number of times. He later died from his injuries.

In their attempts to reach Rawls during the standoff, police had taken the house apart, later demolishing it on Tuesday. Rawls did not live at the house, but a mother and her children did, according to the property landlord.

The family left the home when the standoff began, police said.

According to an update from WWMT Wednesday, a GoFundMe campaign has been launched for the displaced family, which will be used to help pay for clothes, food and other necessities.

To view the campaign, click here.