The Fruitport Township, Michigan, community is mourning the loss of 14-year-old Rylen Yager, an eighth-grade student at Fruitport Middle School who died on Saturday evening, January 24, 2026. Police were called to the 2900 block of Romedius Street, just south of East Broadway Avenue, at approximately 7:20 p.m. in response to a reported shooting.
Fruitport Township Police Department officers were the first to arrive at the scene on Romedius Street. They found Yager at the location and declared him deceased upon their arrival. Shortly after the initial response, the investigation into the teenager’s death was transferred from the local police department to the Michigan State Police.
The transfer of the investigation was made due to an undisclosed affiliation or connection between the victim’s family and the Fruitport Township Police Department, a step taken to ensure impartiality. The Michigan State Police have stated that their investigation into the fatal shooting remains active, and authorities have released few details about the circumstances that led up to the incident.
On Sunday night, January 25, Fruitport Community Schools Superintendent Jason Kennedy issued a public statement that Yager’s family examined and authorized. Rylen Yager was a student who provided “light and joy to many,” according to Kennedy’s statement. He was well-known for his enormous smile, amazing sense of humor, and capacity to make others feel important and welcome.
Kennedy highlighted Yager’s kind and compassionate nature, noting he was artistic, creative, and athletic, carrying a positive energy and genuine love for life. The school district announced that members of its Emotional Support Team met Sunday night to develop a plan to support students and staff returning to classes on Monday, with counselors and social workers available for those struggling with the loss.
The superintendent extended the district’s condolences to Yager’s family, friends, and the staff who cared for him, asking the community to keep the family in their thoughts and prayers. The Michigan State Police continue to lead the active investigation into the shooting, and no additional details regarding a suspect or motive have been released to the public.