Shooting leaves at least 5 injured at University of Michigan

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A man fatally shot at least five people at Michigan State University Monday night, and some were seriously injured, police said.

The suspect is still at large. He was described as a small man wearing red shoes, a denim jacket and a cap, said Chris Rozman, acting deputy chief of the university’s police department.

Rozman said hundreds of officers were on the East Lansing campus maintaining security and catching the shooter.

“I can only imagine the turmoil going on right now…We are doing everything we can to keep our campus and all of our students safe,” Rozman said.

At least five victims were at Sparrow Hospital, said hospital spokesman John Foren, who did not provide information on their condition.

Authorities ordered students and staff to take cover after reports of gunfire around Berkey Hall, an academic building on the East Lansing campus, shortly after 8:30 p.m.

The alert advised students and staff to “shelter in place immediately” and keep an eye on alert.msu.edu for more information.

At 10:15 p.m., police said Berkey, along with nearby residences, were secure.

Separately, police reported a shooting at IM East, a student recreation center.

Aedan Kelley, a student who lives less than a mile from campus, said he had locked his doors and covered his windows “just in case”. The sound of sirens was constant, he added, and a helicopter hovered overhead.

“It’s very scary,” Kelley said. “And then I have all these people texting me asking if I’m okay, which is overwhelming.”

Authorities announced late Monday the cancellation of all campus activities for 48 hours, including sports and classes. Via Twitter, people were advised not to come to campus on Tuesday.

Michigan State University has 50,000 students. East Lansing is located about 145 kilometers northwest of Detroit.

Meanwhile, the auditorium at East Lansing High School, where a school board meeting was being held on Monday night, was closed and police prevented people from leaving, the Lansing State Journal reported.

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Kusmer reported from Indianapolis.