Man seen with knife on Michigan State University campus is in custody, police say

EAST LANSING, Mich. – A man seen with a knife on Michigan State University’s campus was arrested at a business off campus.

At 12:58 p.m. on Wednesday, an alert was sent out to people in the area telling them to secure in place. At 1:22 p.m., police confirmed on Twitter that the man had been taken into custody. The secure-in-place order has since been lifted.

When the first alert went out, police said they were looking for a man in his 30s who was wearing a grayish-colored hooded sweatshirt, a black mask, black pants and a beige coat. He was reported being seen in Downtown East Lansing with a knife.

Police said the man was involved in an “altercation” with employees at a business in Downtown East Lansing. The man left the business and walked across Grand River Avenue. He was seen on campus near Ramp 6, a parking garage.

East Lansing police located the man at another business in Downtown East Lansing and he was taken into custody. There is no longer a threat to campus. No injuries were reported.

It has been just over a month since three Michigan State University students were killed and five others were injured in a mass shooting at two locations on campus.

“On the heels of the violence we experienced last month, we know that this incident may have been impactful for many and the alerts that we sent may have evoked a range of emotions and we validate that and acknowledge that while wanting to provide an accurate update at the same time,” Michigan State University Police Chief Chris Rozman said.

Anyone with information is asked to call 517-355-2221 or email tips@police.msu.edu. Students, faculty and families who are looking for support can find a list of resources here.

Read: 4th student discharged from hospital after being injured in Michigan State mass shooting