Michigan State University is investigating the university’s response to two overnight East Lansing shootings that left five people injured.
“We recognize that students and families may have expected an MSU alert and may have been uncertain about what was happening,” President Kevin Guskiewicz wrote in a campuswide email. “At the time, because the incidents occurred off campus and no ongoing threat to the campus community had been identified, MSU Department of Police and Public Safety did not send an emergency alert.”
MSU DPPS assisted the East Lansing Police Department with responding to two shootings — one on Linden Street and M.A.C. Avenue and another at Frye Avenue and Stoddard Avenue — in the early hours of Nov. 1.
There are three victims from the M.A.C. Avenue and Linden Street shooting, all of whom are in stable condition. For the shooting at Frye Avenue and Stoddard Avenue, there are two victims. One is in stable condition and the other’s condition is unknown.
None of the victims or suspects are MSU students, spokesperson Emily Guerrant told The State News.
MSU, the City of East Lansing and Ingham County all have separate alert systems. MSU DPPS issues “emergency notifications based on the law,” according to Guskiewicz's email. Community alerts are provided through Smart911.
“We will continue working with our local public safety partners to clarify each organization’s role, identify any gaps in current protocols, and determine how to potentially improve access to timely, verified information,” Guskiewicz continued.
Guskiewicz also addressed the recent sanctioning of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity chapter in the email. This morning, Guskiewicz posted a statement to his social media platforms calling the “incidents that occurred ... deeply concerning.”
A video recently circulated showing alleged members of the fraternity using illicit drugs.
Following action taken by the national organization, the MSU chapter has been ordered to “cease and desist” all chapter operations, according to the email.
