A gunman went on a rampage Monday evening through two sites on the campus of Michigan State University, killing at least three people and wounding five others before committing suicide some hours later.
Chris Rozman, the interim deputy chief of Michigan State University Police and Public Safety, said in a news conference early Tuesday morning that the suspect killed himself when confronted by police not long after a description and two photos were issued to the public.
The suspect, described as “a short male with a mask, possibly Black,” was not immediately named, nor were any of his victims.
Deputy Chief Rozman did not say in his post-midnight news conference whether the suspect was connected to the university or anything about his motive. He did say that when his body and effects were searched after the suicide, multiple weapons and more ammunition were still on him.
At an 11 p.m. news conference, Deputy Chief Rozman said the department had surveillance footage of the suspect and released two photos from it.
SUSPECT PHOTOS: The suspect is a Black male, shorter in stature, red shoes, jean jacket, wearing a baseball cap that is navy with a lighter brim. pic.twitter.com/9blppnX5U3
— MSU Police and Public Safety (@msupolice) February 14, 2023
Shelter-in-place ordered issued some hours earlier were lifted during the midnight hour, when the suspect killed himself and the public threat declared over.
The suspect last had been seen leaving the school’s Student Union building, the second of two shooting sites, the deputy chief said. He was wearing “red shoes, a jean jacket and a ball cap,” he said.
According to the university, shots were first fired inside Berkey Hall on the north end of the East Lansing campus at 8:18 p.m. local time.
MSU spokeswoman Emily Guerrant confirmed to the Detroit News that there was one fatality from that first shooting site. Deputy Chief Rozman said Tuesday morning that a second fatality occurred at that site.
There were also multiple injuries and one fatality at the student union, campus police said. Authorities also did not state whether the victims were students, faculty or staff.
Sparrow Hospital reported treating five victims of the shooting.
“Some of the victims do have life-threatening injuries,” Deputy Chief Rozman said late Monday evening.
The college canceled all campus activities for 48 hours, including classes and athletic events. “Please DO NOT come to campus tomorrow,” the university’s police department said.
There had been reports of gunshots at up to seven sites, but Deputy Chief Rozman called such reports inaccurate.
“There have been false reports of the suspect being seen in numerous different locations,” he warned, assuring reporters that the suspect had only shot anyone at Berkey Hall and the student union.
The 5,200-acre campus, one of the largest by size in the U.S., was locked down quickly though.
The university said in a statement that “all persons on campus and in (the) neighboring community should immediately shelter in place and secure the room they are in.”
Text messages to “Secure in place immediately. Run, hide, fight” were auto-sent to students on campus.
• Victor Morton can be reached at vmorton@washingtontimes.com.
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