19-Year-Old Connor Lotterman Dies During a House Party

A college student’s life was cut short at a party where gunfire broke out from an upstairs room, prompting an active investigation and renewed public calls for gun safety.

Connor Lotterman, a 19-year-old engineering student at Grand Valley State University, died after being shot in the head on May 9, 2025. The incident occured shortly after 11 p.m. at a home on 2nd Avenue near Lake Michigan Drive NW in Tallmadge Township, Michigan, an area surrounded by local businesses.

According to the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, a 20-year-old man was inside an upstairs room during the party when he fired several rounds from a personal firearm through the floor. Lotterman was downstairs with other guests when one of the bullets struck him. He was taken to a hospital but died on May 10 from his injuries.

The shooter’s name has not been released to the public. Authorities confirmed that alcohol is believed to have played a role in the incident and said between ten and twenty people were in the home at the time, all of whom were acquainted with each other.

While the county medical examiner has labeled the death accidental, the Ottawa County Prosecutor’s Office is still reviewing the case to determine whether criminal charges should be brought against the shooter. Captain Jake Sparks from the sheriff’s office emphasized that, while the death was not premeditated, the act of shooting through the floor was deliberate.

Sparks also addressed the importance of safe gun storage. “If you have firearms that are out, lock them away, separate them from the ammunition,” he said. “Gun safes, trigger guards, trigger locks, all those things can be important to make sure nothing tragic happens.”

The school that Lotterman had been attending acknowledged the tragedy in a public statement issued by its dean of students. It expressed condolences to his family and friends. It also reminded students, faculty, and staff of available support resources, including counseling services and employee assistance programs.

Born May 13, 2005, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Lotterman was the youngest of five children. He was a graduate of Covenant Christian High School and had previously attended Hope Protestant Reformed Christian School. He was remembered by relatives, classmates, and his church community at Grace Protestant Reformed Church.

Lotterman is survived by his parents, Steve and Maria Lotterman; siblings Davinia, Kristen, Marielle, and Brett; several nieces and nephews; grandparents Nick and Ina Kleyn; and his longtime girlfriend, Rae Brummel. His paternal grandparents, Don and Berdina Lotterman, preceded him in death.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, May 17, at Grace Protestant Reformed Church in Grand Rapids. Visitation took place on May 15 and 16 at Georgetown Protestant Reformed Church in Hudsonville. A private family committal and burial followed at Rosedale Memorial Park.

In the days following his death, a GoFundMe campaign was launched to support the Lotterman family and fund a memorial bench in the deceased student’s honor. The page noted that donations could also assist with other needs for Steve and Maria, and their children. As of publication, $1,000 had been raised toward a $5,000 goal.

Lotterman’s mother, Maria, is active on Facebook, where she has continued to share updates and memorial tributes following her son’s passing. Public comments on news posts reflected both sadness and frustration over the circumstances surrounding the death.

“Happens far to often [sic], kids should all have to learn gun safety even if they don’t handle or believe in guns because they are not toys and life cannot be reset like in a video game,” one person wrote.

“That’s heartbreaking. A young life full of potential taken far too soon. Hoping for justice and sending strength to the family and friends affected,” another comment read. Others voiced concern about firearm responsibility.

“That is a sad outcome. People should be more responsible with their possessions. It is not the Gun’s fault, though!!!! We have increasingly more and more people to include younger children that disregard common sense and safety! That should be brought back, [sic]” said one person.

One commenter questioned the lack of transparency. “Why aren’t they releasing the shooter’s information??!? 🤔 🙄,” they commented. As the investigation continues, Connor’s community remains shaken by the incident, one marked by what many have described as a reckless and avoidable act.