UPDATED 1:55 P.M. – The suspect in the mass shooting at Michigan State University on Monday is a 43-year-old man who had no affiliation with the college, MSU Police and Public Safety Interim Deputy Chief Chris Rozman said.
“We have no idea why he came to campus to do this…,” Rozman said at a 1:30 a.m. press conference.
Interim President Teresa Woodruff called Monday a “day of shock and heartbreak.”
“We are devastated at the loss of life. Our campus grieves, we will all grieve. We will change over time. We cannot allow this to continue to happen again.”
Woodruff said the school would move to emergency operations for two days, to give students, staff and faculty “time to think, grieve and be together.”
Beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, the Hannah Center at 819 Abbot Road will be open for students and faculty to access resources to help them cope with the tragedy.
UPDATED 12:30 A.M. – A suspect in the mass shooting Monday at Michigan State University shot and killed himself, police said.
The unidentified man is accused of killing three people and wounding five others in a rampage that police said began about 8:18 p.m. at Berkey Hall before moving to the MSU Union. Sparrow Hospital spokesman John Foren said all five victims are in critical condition.
“We start tonight with an important update, the suspect in this incident was located outside the MSU campus and it does appear that suspect has died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He is deceased,” MSU Police and Public Safety Interim Deputy Chief Chris Rozman said at a 12:30 a.m. Tuesday press conference.
“We no longer have an active threat on campus. There is no longer a threat to campus. No longer a need to shelter in place,” he added.
He described in the incident as a “senseless act of violence” and confirmed earlier reports that some of the wounded had life-threatening injuries.
The suspect killed himself near Lake Lansing Road and North Larch Street, nearly 5 miles from campus.
He said police do not have information on the gender of the victims or whether they were students.
“We can not confirm any personal information at this time,” Rozman said.
He said police were still working to determine the suspect’s identify
“We are unsure of any affiliation the suspect has to the university,” Rozman said.
Rozman confirmed the only shooting scenes were Berkey Hall and the MSU Union. Other locations reported as locations of reported shots fired by police including IM East were wrong, he said. Rozman said two people died at Berkey, and one at the Union.
It’s was not clear what type of gun the suspect used and police had no information above motive, Rozman said.
“We have no idea what the motive is. I have no idea what that motive would be,” Rozman said.
MSU lifted its shelter in place order.
Michigan State Police in a Twitter post about 1 a.m. Tuesday said troopers and officers were on scene of an active crime scene at the corner of Lake Lansing and Larch in Lansing and asked the community to avoid the area.
Rozman had said earlier Monday evening police are seeking one suspect, a black male, shorter in stature and wearing red shoes. He was wearing a jean jacket and a baseball cap.
Police had believed the suspect to be on foot at one point.
MSU police asks that anyone who has information that could assist in the investigation to call 844-99-MSUPD or email tips@police.msu.edu.
Whitmer, Nessel issue statements
UPDATED: 1:10 A.M. – Gov. Gretchen Whitmer released a statement early Tuesday morning.
“Our Spartan community and Michiganders across the state are devastated. MSU’s campus is a special place for so many, and it is now the site of another senseless act of gun violence. Parents across Michigan were on pins and needles calling their kids to check in on them and tell them they love them. It doesn’t have to be this way.
“Certain places are supposed to be about community, learning, or joy—elementary schools and college campuses, movie theaters and dance halls, grocery stores and workplaces. They should not be the sites of bloodshed. This is a uniquely American problem. Too many of us scan rooms for exits when we enter them. We plan who that last text or call would go to. We should not, we cannot, accept living like this.
“I want to thank the first responders for their swift actions on the ground tonight and the medical professionals who are working to save lives. Spartans will cry and hold each other a little closer. We will mourn the loss of beautiful souls and pray for those fighting for their lives in the hospital.”
Attorney General Dana Nessel also issued a statement.
“As a parent, there is no greater fear than having your child tell you there is an active shooter at their school. I experienced this terror along with thousands of other MSU families last night. While my Spartan sons are safe, I am mourning the devastating loss and senseless violence. The events at Michigan State University are a tragedy for the entire state of Michigan. My thoughts are with the victims, their families, friends, and loved ones.
“I want to thank everyone in law enforcement who worked to secure the campus and protect the community. I am hopeful that the investigation reveals how we can better protect our children, our neighbors, and all those who call Michigan home.”
Michigan State police confirm 3 dead, at least 5 wounded in mass shooting
UPDATED 11:45 P.M. – Three people were killed in Monday night’s mass shooting at Michigan State Unviversity, MSU police confirmed on social media.
The department said “There are 3 confirmed fatalities. This is in addition to the 5 victims who have been transported to the hospital.”
“All campus activities are canceled for 48 hours, including athletics, classes, and all campus-related activities,” the department added. “Please DO NOT come to campus tomorrow.”
Graham Diedrich, a graduate student, said that he was working with a client at the MSU Writing Center when he noticed people around him taking phone calls, followed by the sound of sirens.
Diedrich, his co-workers and his client barricaded the door to a study room in the main library.
“We are all listening to police scanners but there is a lot of misinformation going on,” he said over a Twitter message. “One person in the room thought that there were hundreds of wounded.”
“I’m just worried about others who are injured. All said, we are in a better position than some,” Diedrich said.
At least 5 wounded in shooting at Michigan State, suspect photos released
UPDATED 11:30 P.M. – MSU Police and Public Safety Interim Deputy Chief Chris Rozman in an 11 p.m. news conference confirmed five people were shot at two locations on MSU’s campus Monday night.
Rozman said the initial shooting was reported at Berkey Hall at 8:18 p.m. and multiple police units were on scene within minutes where they found multiple victims.
Another shooting took place at the student Union, where additional people were shot.
Five people were transported to Sparrow Hospital, some with life-threatening injuries, he said. A Sparrow Hospital spokesman also confirmed five people had been transported but did not give conditions.
Rozman said police are seeking one suspect, a black male, shorter in stature and wearing red shoes. He had a jean jacket and a baseball cap on.
He was last seen leaving the north side of the union building.
Rick Darnell, of Lansing, whose son works at MSU, said he went to the area after his son called him
“(My son) works for a company that you got guys working in one of the buildings here at night doing abatement work and so he called and told me something’s going on,” Darnell said. “I’m not surprised. You see it on TV all the time. It’s just a matter of time.”
Sparrow confirms 5 transported to hospital
UPDATED 10:55 P.M. – Five people have been transported to Sparrow Health System after a shooting at Michigan State University, the State Journal has confirmed.
MSU spokeswoman Emily Guerrant told WILX TV-10 and The Detroit News that one person was killed in the incident, although she later told The News there were “unknown fatalities.“
What appeared to be sheet covering a body on a sidewalk could be seen near the MSU Union around 10 p.m. Monday night.
MSU police at 10:54 p.m. said there were still searching for a suspect and the shooting scene was active.
Michigan State releases description of suspect in reported shootings
UPDATED: 10:15 P.M. — MSU police in a social media post about 10 p.m. said they are seeking a short male with a mask in connection with the reported shootings on campus Monday night. The department added it was “still receiving multiple calls of an active shooter on campus and that of 10:04 p.m. “a person is actively shooting at the East Lansing campus.”
One body bag could be seen on the ground outside of the north side of MSU union on Grand River.
Ben Finkelstein, a senior, said he was sheltering in place in his room at at 1855 Place.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been this scared,” he said. “I’ve been listening to the police scanner for an hour.”
Finkelstein said he was hiding under a pile of dirty laundry in his first floor room. He closed all of his blinds and turned off his lights.
“It’s far too late for this to be called a wake up call,” he said. “The sad truth is I doubt we’re going to be the last. Other than that, I’m praying for everybody.”
A line of 10 ambulances was waiting outside the Broad Art Museum. Victims are currently being transported to Sparrow Hospital, university police said.
They added that Brody Snyder/Phillips, Mason, Abbot, Landon and Berkey halls as well as the MSU Union have all been cleared or secured.
East Lansing Public Schools canceled classes Tuesday. A group of people, including a State Journal reporter who had been attending a Board of Education meeting in the high school auditorium were ordered by East Lansing police to shelter inside the high school auditorium.
UPDATED POST 9:40 P.M. – Michigan State University police said a second reported shooting occurred shortly after 9:25 p.m. at IM East in the 800 block of E. Shaw Lake on campus, about 50 minutes after a reported shooting took place at Berkey Hall in the 500 block of E. Circle Drive.
The department said a lone shooting suspect is believed to be on the loose on campus; students and staff should continue to shelter in place.
MSU’s campus was eerily quiet, the loudest sounds being the beeping of crosswalk sensors, a bell toning and the occasional siren as dozens of officers patrolled carrying long guns and red and blue lights lit up the area around MSU Union building at Abbot Road in East Lansing.
MSU police order students, staff to shelter in place for shots fired report
ORIGINAL POST 8:35 P.M. — EAST LANSING — A suspect in a reported shooting on Michigan State University’s campus is “believed to be on foot right now,” according to a post on social media about 9:16 p.m. by university police.
In an alert sent shortly after 8:30 p.m., the university’s police department alerts by text, email and phone that read” “MSU Police report shots fired incident occurring on or near the East Lansing campus. Secure-in-Place immediately. Run, Hide, Fight.
In the most recent alert, police said students and staff should continue to shelter in place and that police are continuing to respond.
“Run means evacuate away from danger if you can do so safely, Hide means to secure-in-place, and Fight means protect yourself if no other option. Monitor alert.msu.edu for information.”
East Lansing and MSU police could not be immediately reached for comment. The city of East Lansing on Twitter posts that “Shots have been fired on the MSU campus. The shooter is still at large. Police are active on the scene. Community members on and off campus should shelter in place immediately.”
The East Lansing High School auditorium, where a school board meeting was being held Monday night, was locked down and people were being prevented from leaving by East Lansing police.
