Novi detectives are building a timeline in the killing of a 46-year-old man found dead in his Oakland Glens home. Police say social media reports of gunshots in the neighborhood do not match what investigators have found so far.

Jonathan Michael Harley was discovered dead the evening of Monday, Aug. 31, after officers responded to a welfare check at his residence on Joliet in the Oakland Glens mobile home park, near 13 Mile and Novi roads, C&G Newspapers reported. Harley had not shown up for work, prompting the call. He lived alone, and no one else was inside when officers arrived at about 9:30 p.m.

The Oakland County Medical Examiner's Office ruled Harley's death a homicide on Wednesday, Sept. 2, based on an autopsy. The ruling made it Novi's first confirmed homicide of 2026, The Oakland Press reported.

The Michigan State Police Crime Laboratory processed the scene to assist Novi police, according to a department news release issued by Novi Public Safety Director and Police Chief Erick Zinser.

Social media gunshot reports

Residents on social media reported hearing possible gunshots in the Oakland Glens neighborhood on the evening of Saturday, Aug. 29, two days before Harley's body was found. Novi police acknowledged those reports but said investigators have not confirmed that gunshots were fired or that the reports are connected to Harley's death.

In the Sept. 2 news release, Zinser said the social media reports do not align with the preliminary timeline of the investigation.

Police have not disclosed Harley's cause of death beyond the homicide designation. No suspects or persons of interest have been publicly named, and no arrests have been reported.

No public threat

Investigators said they do not believe there is a threat to the public related to the incident, according to the Detroit Free Press. The department said Sept. 2 that it would release no further public information about the case.

The investigation remains active.

Anyone with information can contact the Novi Police Department.