Search paused overnight for teen missing in Gun Lake, effort continues

Michigan State Police temporarily suspended the search Thursday night for a 16-year-old boy who went missing in Gun Lake, in Yankee Springs Township, after two full days of searching around Orangeville Island. Witnesses said the teen went underwater near the island and did not resurface. He was last seen Wednesday evening.

The search has drawn boats, dive teams, drones and a helicopter, with crews from the Orangeville Township Fire Department, Yankee Springs Fire Rescue, the MSP Marine Services Team, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the Barry County Sheriff's Office, the Allegan County Sheriff's Office and Great Lakes Rescue. MSP said the effort has been complicated by the lake's current and a murky, grassy lake bottom, requiring crews to use side-scanning and bottom sonar before sending divers down to search by hand.

MSP said Thursday night that no order had been given to call off the search entirely. Sgt. Carlos Fossati Jr., acting assistant post commander at the MSP Wayland Post, asked boaters to stay off the lake if possible while the search continues and asked the public to keep the teen's family in their thoughts. Fossati said family members and other bystanders were already searching when troopers arrived Wednesday night, aided by a good Samaritan who offered use of a pontoon boat.

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