Road Rage / Shooting in Bertrand TWP

• Person Making Release:            Undersheriff Greg Sanders

• Date and Time of Incident:        0338 hrs, 06/06/2025

• Type of Incident:                         Road Rage / Shooting                      

• Location of Incident:      US 12 in Bertrand Township

• Agencies Involved:  Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division, Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Detective Bureau, Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Evidence Technician Team, Michigan State Police, Buchanan Police, Bertrand Fire Department, SW Michigan Community Ambulance Service (SMCAS), Three Oaks Ambulance Service

Narrative:

At approximately 3:38 AM, on June 6, 2025, police responded to JD’s truck stop for a victim that was shot.  The individual was transported to the hospital for treatment.

Officers learned that the shooting stemmed from a road rage incident that occurred nearby while the two vehicles were travelling on US-12, in Bertrand Township.

Several agencies assisted.

The BCSO evidence tech team was called in to process the scene.

Currently, members of the BCSO detective bureau are actively investigating this crime.

We will be providing updates as this investigation progresses.

************** UPDATE *********************

The male victim was transposed to Memorial Hospital in South Bend and fortunately survived.

Members of the detective bureau were able to locate the suspect vehicle in Indiana. 

Berrien County Sheriff’s Office detectives worked with members of the Mishawaka Police Department to locate and arrest the person believed to be responsible for this incident.

More information will follow.

************ UPDATE **************

Two individuals have been charged with this incident.

Sean Rader, 26-year-old, from Mishawaka, is charged with Accessory After the Fact (felony)

Ryland Mayfield, 18-year-old, from Mishawaka, is charged with three (3) counts of Assault with intent to Murder, one (1) count Carrying a Concealed Weapon, one (1) count Felony Firearms, one (1) count Misc Weapons Offence.

Both individuals are lodged at the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office and scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow.

The criminal charges are accusations, and these two individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

This is an ongoing investigation.

************* UPDATE *******************

The victim is Kristian Hertsel, 27 year-old, from Niles.

This is an ongoing investigation.