Update on Owosso Shooting

A shooter opened fire outside a school Friday morning killing an anti-abortion activist. Police believe the same man is responsible for shooting and killing the owner of a gravel pit earlier that morning.

Just before 7:30 a.m. shots rang out at the Owosso High School killing 63-year-old James Pouillon.

"Everyone in town knew him as the 'sign man'," said Carol Adasiak, Pouillon's neighbor.

James Pouillon was an anti-abortion activist who often held signs of protest around the city.

"I know he stood on the street corner winter, summer, heat, cold, and truly believed in what he was doing," she said.

Police tell us after they apprehended the suspect, 33-year-old Harlan James Drake of Owosso, they learned of a second shooting that killed the owner of a gravel pit earlier this morning.

"While he was being driven to the police station, [Drake] overheard radio traffic in the police car and at that time he confessed that he was involved in that shooting as well," said Owosso Chief of Police Michael Compeau.

At a press conference this afternoon, officials said Pouillon was targeted by Drake because of his anti- abortion campaign are also saying that Drake had plans to kill a third person.

Drake also had plans to kill Owosso realtor James Howe, but police arrested Drake at his home before he was able to target Howe.

Officials wouldnt say why the Owosso realtor was a target, but said Drake held some sort of a grudge against him.

The Shiawassee County Sheriffs Department says the suspect and the victim at the gravel pit knew one another but they're unsure of any other connections.

"As far as any relationship between the two victims we have no idea at this time if they knew each other or had anything in common whatsoever," said Shiawassee County Sheriff George Braidwood.

And while the city of Owosso was shocked by this morning's events, Pouillon's neighbor says she wasn't.

"I knew it was coming. I knew it was coming," said Carol Adasiak. "I told him, Jim youre gonna get hurt. I didnt think he would get shot. I thought somebody would beat him up or something, not kill him."

Adasiak describes her neighbor as a spiritual man with strong beliefs.

"He was just a downright nice person," said Adasiak. "You never saw him angry. You never saw him scream or yell."

She says his graphic signs spoke louder than Pouillon ever did, and that he may have been murdered by someone who didnt want to hear his message.

There were kids at Owosso High School this morning when the shooting took place. 

The school remained open today and is offering counseling to any student who requests it.