Jacob Joshua Ballard, a 37-year-old man, died on March 28, 2026, after a shooting inside a home in the 14000 block of Hall Avenue in Thompsonville, Michigan. The call came in around 9:20 p.m., sending Benzie County deputies and emergency medical personnel to the residence. When they arrived, Ballard had been shot. EMS attempted life-saving measures, but he died at the scene.
Investigators later said the home belonged to Jonathan Walter Frederick, who was also identified as the person who
called 911 to report the shooting. Authorities said Frederick and Ballard knew each other, and Sheriff Kyle Rosa stated that Ballard had been living at Frederick’s home. That detail gave the case the feel of a private, closed-door tragedy rather than a random act of violence. Law enforcement said there was no ongoing threat to the public, but they also made clear that the investigation was complicated because there were no outside witnesses inside the home when the shooting occurred.
Frederick, 66, was arrested at the scene initially on unrelated charges. He was later formally charged in Benzie County’s 85th District Court with open murder and illegal possession of a firearm, also described in reports as prohibited person in possession of a firearm. He was arraigned on March 30, 2026. Authorities did not immediately release a detailed account of what they believe led up to the shooting, and Sheriff Rosa said investigators were still trying to piece together exactly what happened inside the house.
The case moved into court in April, but Frederick’s preliminary examination was delayed. At an April 13 hearing, his attorney requested an adjournment because he was not the principal attorney on the case. Court records listed Patrick Cherry of McCurdy, Wotila & Porteous as Frederick’s legal counsel. Benzie County prosecutor Sara Swanson agreed to the delay, and Judge John Mead granted it. At that point, a new preliminary hearing date had not been set.
Outside the criminal case, Ballard was remembered in obituary notices as Jacob Joshua Ballard, someone who enjoyed quiet time by the river and fishing. His death left behind both grief and unanswered questions: a shooting reported by the accused man himself, a victim who had been staying in the home, and investigators working without another eyewitness to explain what unfolded before the fatal gunshot.
