EAST LANSING, Mich. – A tip from a caller helped police locate the suspect in a mass shooting on Michigan State University’s campus more than three hours after shots were first fired.
A 43-year-old man is suspected of opening fire at two locations on the university’s campus Monday night, killing three students and hospitalizing five others. The suspected shooter died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Police said the first reports of shots fired occurred at 8:18 p.m. Monday at Berkey Hall. Additional shots were fired at the MSU Union building. Police said there was an “overwhelming” law enforcement response.
Police released a more detailed description and two photos of the suspected shooter at 11:18 p.m. on Monday. At 11:33 p.m. an alert with the description was sent to students.
By 11:35 p.m. Monday, someone had called 911 to report seeing a man in Lansing who matched the description of the suspect. Police went to that location and the suspect killed himself. It’s not clear if he killed himself before officers arrived or if there was a confrontation.
“Because of our quick release of the photograph from the campus security cameras and the help from our community, it was a caller’s tip that led law enforcement to that suspect in the city of Lansing. We cannot thank the public and the community and the person who called in that report enough for being observant, for following our messaging and for being vigilant and contacting us immediately,” Interim Deputy Chief Chris Rozman of Michigan State University Police and Public Safety said at a press conference Tuesday morning.
Read more: Timeline of Michigan State University shootings, search for suspect