A gunman killed three people and injured five others at Michigan State University’s campus in East Lansing on Monday night, police said, adding that the suspect was later found dead after apparently taking his own life.
(Bloomberg) — A gunman killed three people and injured five others at Michigan State University’s campus in East Lansing on Monday night, police said, adding that the suspect was later found dead after apparently taking his own life.
The university’s police department responded to shots being fired near MSU’s Berkey Hall at 8:18 p.m. EST and told students and staff to secure-in-place. They were joined by State Police, federal and local law enforcement, who worked to secure multiple buildings on the sprawling college campus.
“The suspect has been located off campus. It appears he has died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound,” MSU Police and Public Safety said on Twitter. It added there is no longer a threat to campus and the shelter-in-place has been lifted.
Police have not yet released the names of the suspect or the victims and are investigating what may have been the motive for the shooting.
“There is a lot we don’t know at this point,” Chris Rozman, the university police department’s interim deputy police chief, said at a news conference.
The shootings took place in at least two locations and police were trying to piece together the events that led to the killings. The suspect was described as a man in a mask who was carrying a rifle, and Rozman said some of the victims may have suffered life-threatening injuries. Rozman said they didn’t know if the gunman had a relationship to the university.
Police said it appeared there was only one suspect. For two hours after the initial report, police speaking on radio said they were searching buildings and wooded areas on campus looking for the gunman.
“I’ve been briefed on the shooting at Michigan State University. The Michigan State Police along with @MSUPolice, local law enforcement and first responders are on the ground,” Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said on Twitter before the suspect was located. “Let’s wrap our arms around the Spartan community tonight. We will keep everyone updated as we learn more.”
Multiple police departments dispatched hundreds of officers to search and patrolling Michigan State’s 5,200 acre (2,100 hectares) campus, Rozman said at an earlier news conference.
The university is canceling all activities for 48 hours, including athletics, the school’s police and public safety department said on Twitter.
–With assistance from Derek Wallbank.
More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
©2023 Bloomberg L.P.