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() — A gunman killed at least three people Monday on the campus of Michigan State University before fatally shooting himself, police said.
The shooting began at 8:18 p.m. ET at Berkey Hall, according to Chris Rozman, interim deputy chief of the Michigan State University Department of Police and Public Safety. The police response was “overwhelming” and officers arrived within minutes.
Police then received reports of a shooting at the student union building, which is adjacent to Berkey Hall. Victims were found at both locations, Rozman said, adding that Berkey and the student union were the only buildings where shootings occurred.
The suspect, described as a Black man wearing red shoes, a jean jacket and a baseball cap, was found off-campus hours after the shooting began. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Rozman said.
In addition to the three fatalities, five people were transported to a local hospital, some with life-threatening injuries. Police declined to say if the victims were or are students.
“This truly has been a nightmare that we are living tonight,” Rozman said at a news conference.
Police are still working to determine the suspect’s identity. It was unclear what connection, if any, he had to MSU, and police had not yet determined a motive.
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Police earlier in the night issued an alert at 8:40 p.m. local time, saying shots had been fired near Berkey Hall on the East Lansing Campus and asking everyone on campus to shelter in place. Authorities said they believed a suspect was on foot near the campus.
As the manhunt for a suspect was underway, Michigan State Police troopers were seen with rifles instructing people to stay inside and away from windows, according to affiliate WLNS.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said she had been briefed on the situation. East Lansing is about 90 miles northwest of Detroit.
All campus activities are canceled for the next 48 hours as police continue to investigate, police said. A shelter in place order has been lifted, and students are free to leave the campus.
No threats had been made against the campus in the days preceding the attack, Rozman said.
affiliate WLNS contributed to this report.
