EAST LANSING, Mich. — At least three people are dead and five others are injured after a gunman opened fire at Michigan State University Monday night, police said.
Police say the suspect was later found dead off campus from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. The announcement came early Tuesday, four hours after shootings were reported, first at Berkey Hall and then nearby at the MSU Union, a popular hub to eat or study.
“We are relieved to no longer have an active threat on campus,” said Chris Rozman, interim deputy chief of the campus police department. He reasserted that authorities believe the suspect acted alone in the incident and said the shelter-in-place on campus was lifted.
With the investigation ongoing, authorities are working to identify the suspect and are processing several different crime scenes.
Rozman said authorities received multiple calls of a shooting around 8:18 p.m. at Berkey Hall on the East Lansing campus. Police then immediately responded to a second shooting in “close proximity” to the Michigan State University Union.
“We tended to the victims at both of those scenes, and there was an overwhelming law enforcement response to campus,” Rozman said.
Michigan State University police confirmed three fatalities in addition to the five victims who were transported to the E.W. Sparrow Hospital in Lansing.
Multiple locations on the campus were cleared and secured as of 10:18 p.m., according to university police. The areas included Brody Hall, Snyder/Phillips Hall, Mason Hall, Abbot Hall, Landon Hall, the MSU Union, and Berkey Hall.
Hundreds of law enforcement officers from local, state, and federal agencies responded to the shooting “in a coordinated effort,” Rozman said. A line of 10 ambulances was waiting outside the Broad Art Museum.
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Ben Finkelstein, a senior, said he was sheltering in place in his room.
“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.”
Aedan Kelley, a junior who lives a half-mile east of campus, said he locked his doors and covered his windows “just in case.” Sirens were constant, he said, and a helicopter hovered overhead.
“It’s all very frightening,” Kelley said. “And then I have all these people texting me wondering if I’m OK, which is overwhelming.”
Gov. Whitmer, ATF briefed on shooting
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Monday that she was briefed on the shooting.
“The Michigan State Police along with Michigan State University Police, local law enforcement, and first responders are on the ground,” Whitmer said on Twitter. “Let’s wrap our arms around the Spartan Community tonight. We will keep everyone updated as we learn more.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Detroit division also said it was responding “to an active shooter” at the school.
Michigan State has about 50,000 students. East Lansing is about 90 miles northwest of Detroit.
The East Lansing High School auditorium, where a school board meeting was being held Monday night, was locked down and people were prevented by school officials from leaving for a time. East Lansing Public Schools later canceled classes Tuesday.
Contributing: The Associated Press