In the summer of 2025, a domestic tragedy unfolded in Kalamazoo, Michigan, ending the life of 47-year-old Sariah Robinson, a Black/African American woman and devoted mother. On the afternoon of June 12th, the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety was dispatched to a residence on Woodward Avenue following reports of a shooting. Upon their arrival, officers discovered Robinson inside the home, suffering from critical gunshot wounds.
She was rushed to a local hospital but succumbed to her injuries later that day. The incident was immediately investigated as a case of domestic violence.
Witnesses at the scene identified the shooter as Robinson's 55-year-old husband, Robert H. Lofton. It was later revealed that at the time of her death, Robinson was in the process of divorcing him, a detail that prosecutors believe was a key factor in the tragic events. The investigation uncovered that one of Robinson's sons was a witness to the horrific event. He told investigators that he saw his stepfather raise a handgun and shoot his mother. Fearing for his and his siblings' safety, he fled with them, hearing two more gunshots as they escaped the home.
Following the shooting, Lofton fled the scene. A few hours later, officers located him on Lilac Lane. As law enforcement approached, Lofton turned the gun on himself in an apparent suicide attempt. He sustained a critical self-inflicted gunshot wound and was transported to the hospital for medical treatment. After being medically cleared, Lofton was arrested and formally charged in connection with his wife's death.
Robert H. Lofton faces a string of serious charges, including open murder, which carries a potential life sentence without the possibility of parole. He has also been charged with two counts of felony firearm, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and carrying a concealed weapon. Court records revealed a lengthy and troubling criminal history for Lofton, with 26 court appearances since 1990 for various felonies and misdemeanors. Following a virtual arraignment from the hospital, he was ordered to be held without bond.
