(WXYZ) — According to the University of Michigan's Division of Public Safety and Security, a message was posted on a Russian-operated confessions website indicating an intent to carry out an active shooter incident towards women on the University of Michigan campus.
About 4 hours after the original alert, campus police and the FBI put out an updated alert saying there is no imminent danger to the campus community after they tracked down the person behind the post. While the person responsible has been identified and has been interviewed by the FBI, the FBI says right now no one is in custody as the investigation continues.
A screenshot of a social media post quickly spread among students on campus in Ann Arbor as campus police jumped into action.
“I saw it maybe on Instagram first because it was circulating all over social media,” said student Abbie Johnson. "My first thought was that’s definitely really, really terrifying.”
The poster threatened to come to campus on Monday October 4 to shoot women with a semi automatic weapon, blaming the me too movement and referencing other mass shootings.
“As a woman it was a bit more concerning for me,” said student Maddy Yake. "I wasn't quite sure how seriously to take it because I've experienced shooting threats at my high school and also I think at the University, and none of them have ever come to fruition.”
Campus Police soon sent out an alert to students saying they were working with other agencies to identify the poster, and in the meantime were putting more staff on campus.
“I know for me a college campus is supposed to feel like this safe place, this home away from home," Johnson said. "To know that that is being threatened is definitely very scary.”
Within four hours of the alert, Campus Police and the FBI say they tracked down the poster who lived out of state, determining no current threat to campus.
“I'm happy they did (find the suspect)," Yake said. "I'm very excited about it because it takes that fear away from Monday for us.”
Many students were surprised at how fast the person was found.
"I am," said student Jason Chao. "It was a single message on a single board, so I'm surprised but I'm very relieved.”
The post still caused hours of confusion and concern on campus, with students just thankful it didn't appear serious.
“We’re both from cities so it's not a new concept to me that people post stuff like that online," said student Abigail Hart. "But it's different being in a place I really care about and having that kind of danger.”
The FBI has not released specifically what state the poster was in, saying the investigation is still under way.
If you have any information regarding this incident, please contact DPSS at 734-763-1131 or at dpss-safety-security@umich.edu.
