Suniya Brooks

The Crime

On July 25, 2021, at approximately 2:05 a.m., officers from the Township of Kalamazoo Police Department responded to the area of 2220 Gull Road following multiple reports of gunshots heard in the area. Upon arrival, officers located 16-year-old Suniya Brooks who was suffering from a gunshot wound. Despite efforts to save her, Brooks succumbed to her injuries at the scene.

The Victim

Suniya Brooks was a 16-year-old student who attended Gull Lake Community Schools and worked at McDonald’s. She was remembered by those who knew her as a sweet and kind young woman with a beautiful smile.

The name Suniya was said to reflect her sunny and bright personality—a warmth she shared with the people around her. Her life was tragically cut short, leaving behind family, friends, classmates, and members of her community who continue to remember her.

The Cold Case

The Township of Kalamazoo Police Department continues to investigate Suniya Brooks’ death and has partnered with Silent Observer to encourage anyone with information about the case to come forward.

Anyone who may have information that could assist investigators is encouraged to contact Silent Observer at 269-343-2100 or submit information through their website at www.kalamazoosilentobserver.com.

Information may also be provided directly to the Township of Kalamazoo Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at 269-381-0391.

Even information that may seem minor or insignificant could be helpful to investigators.

How WMU Cold Case Program Students Helped

Students participating in the WMU Cold Case Program assisted detectives from the Township of Kalamazoo Police Department by organizing and digitizing the case file. Students also created several documents designed to assist detectives in their continued work on the case. Through this collaboration, students contributed to the ongoing effort to preserve the case information, support investigators, and help bring renewed attention to Suniya Brooks’ case.