The couple Micayla and Eric Coughlin are among the nine victims of the shooting at the water playground in Michigan

US News

From David Propper

A couple who took their baby and toddler to a water playground in Michigan — and protected them when a crazed gunman opened fire — were among the nine shooting victims at the summer attraction on Saturday, relatives confirmed.

Micayla and Eric Coughlin were both injured while protecting their 2-year-old and 7-month-old daughters when shots rang out at the Brooklands Plaza Splash Pad near their home around 5 p.m.

The man and woman, who live in Rochester, were shot a total of seven times during the horrific scene, a family friend said in a GoFundMe post.

“Shortly after getting some ice cream, they went to the kiddie pool and hadn't been there a minute when Micayla and Eric heard gunshots,” the post said. “In an effort to save their children, they each grabbed one child to protect them.”

The two are currently being treated after being admitted to hospital.

“Thanks to their heroic actions, their children were protected and able to go home that same evening,” the family friend said on the GoFundMe page. “Micayla and Eric face a long and uncertain time recovering from this unfathomable tragedy.”

As of Sunday evening, the fundraiser had raised more than $20,000.

The Coughlins and seven other park visitors were injured in the shooting by 42-year-old Michael William Nash, who later committed suicide during a confrontation with police.

In the gruesome gun violence, an 8-year-old boy was seriously wounded by a gunshot to the head, and a younger relative, a 4-year-old boy, is in stable condition after suffering a gunshot wound to the thigh, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said, according to the Detroit News.

A 39-year-old woman related to the two children was also shot in the legs and abdomen and was in critical condition Saturday.

The other victims were all 30 years old or older, including a 78-year-old man, WXYZ reported. They were all in stable condition.

Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan Barnett said one of the victims was the wife of a city worker and she was there with 14 family members and friends, the Detroit News reported.

“[When I talked to her husband,] “He was in shock but was grateful that his family was OK and was focused on supporting them,” Barnett said, according to the outlet.