In a tragic turn of events on June 28, 2024, Sean Michael Thompson, a 46-year-old male, was fatally shot inside Metro Studios Ink, a tattoo shop in Howell, Michigan. The incident, which took place around 5:30 p.m. on a Friday, was the culmination of what police described as a known history of disputes between Thompson and the staff of the business. On that evening, Thompson was reportedly causing a disturbance and making threats of violence.
Although police have indicated that Thompson was not armed, the confrontation escalated dramatically.
A single shot was fired, striking and killing Thompson. The man who fired the shot was identified as 48-year-old Jeremy Michael Heath of Clarkston. Heath was immediately detained at the scene by Howell police officers who were responding to a 'threats complaint' at the tattoo parlor. He was subsequently arrested and lodged at the Livingston County Jail.
Following the shooting, Jeremy Michael Heath was charged with open murder, carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent, carrying a concealed weapon, and two counts of felony firearms. The open murder charge was added after the initial arraignment based on additional information discovered during the investigation. Heath's wife has publicly stated that her husband acted in self-defense, describing Thompson as a 'madman' who was threatening to 'kill everybody.' She also claimed that Thompson had sent threatening text messages prior to the incident.
Heath was denied bail and his case is proceeding through the legal system. A final settlement conference is scheduled for March 7, 2025, and if no plea agreement is reached, a trial is set to begin on March 24, 2025. It has also been reported that Heath may be connected to a 2009 cold case involving a stabbing death, though he has not been charged in that matter. Sean Thompson, a professional tattoo artist, was remembered in an obituary as a man with a passion for art, travel, and various hobbies, and a celebration of his life was planned for August 2024.
