When Tim Russell heard loud, repeated popping noises outside his second floor Berkey Hall classroom Tuesday, he didn’t hesitate to act.
The political science pre-law senior debated whether the sounds were firecrackers or gunshots, but either way, he knew he had to get out.
“At first, it sounded like firecrackers, then it sounded more like gun shots,” he said. “I peeked out in the hallway and, when I didn’t see anybody, ran.”
Russell was one of about 100 students who evacuated Berkey Hall on Tuesday when loud, booming noises resonated in the building. About three minutes later, MSU police were on the scene, setting up the perimeter.
“Once they got there, they investigated and determined in less than 30 minutes that it was fireworks,” MSU police Sgt. Florene McGlothian-Taylor said.
McGlothian-Taylor said, as of Wednesday afternoon, there was no additional information and no suspects at the time.
Terry Denbow, MSU vice president for University Relations, said MSU police were conducting an evaluation of the response, factoring in student and staff reaction from the scene. MSU police Chief Jim Dunlap was out of the office Wednesday and could not be reached for comment.
About 10 MSU and East Lansing police cars responded to the situation.
Denbow said he was in a meeting with other administrators at the time, including Dunlap, who received the first notification.
Denbow said the university and police responded effectively, assuring the first information released to students was not a first reaction but an accurate portrayal.
“I know there’s a rush for instant information, but we want instant accuracy,” he said. “In a world when people have cell phones, there’s a lot of instant communication, but there’s often a lot of instant communication that isn’t correct.”
Kent Cassella, MSU director of media communications, confirmed Tuesday that one student was being treated at Sparrow Hospital for minor injuries incurred in evacuating the hall.
Before 5 p.m. Tuesday, MSU police sent out an e-mail notifying students of the event. The message cited “numerous reports of shots fired” as the reason for the police response and said they were continuing to investigate.
Denbow said the e-mail was appropriate rather than the university and police department’s E-Text system because it was a single site and the rest of campus wouldn’t have been able to take much action.
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