UPDATE: Sunday, Feb. 2 at 1 a.m.
Police have located and arrested the man believed to be responsible for shooting a
male Ferris State University student in the early morning hours of Saturday, Feb.
1 in Big Rapids.
The suspect was taken into custody late Saturday evening, Feb. 1 at an apartment in
Finch Court on Ferris’ Big Rapids campus. The suspect is being held in the Mecosta
County Jail. A female subject also has been taken into custody and is being questioned
by the Mecosta County Sheriff’s Department. While the suspect is in custody, the investigation
into the shooting will continue.
Charges are expected to be filed against the suspect in the next 24 to 48 hours.
The shooting occurred at approximately 4:15 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1 at Venlo Place
off campus in Big Rapids. The victim of the shooting was treated and released from
the hospital later in the evening.
Ferris State University Department of Public Safety officers have been assisted in
the investigation by the Big Rapids Department of Public Safety, the Mecosta County
Sheriff's Department and the Michigan State Police Emergency Support Tactical Team.
Classes and activities on the Ferris Big Rapids campus were canceled or suspended
Saturday (Feb. 1) as authorities sought the alleged shooter.
A press conference with Ferris DPS Director Bruce Borkovich is being scheduled for
Sunday, Feb. 2 at 9 a.m. at the Ferris State University Department of Public Safety
building on the Big Rapids campus.
UPDATE: Saturday, Feb. 1 at 10:20 p.m.
Ferris State University Department of Public Safety officers, assisted by the Big
Rapids Department of Public Safety, the Mecosta County Sheriff's Department and the
state's emergency support tactical team, have learned that the suspect in the shooting
might be in an apartment different than the apartments that were searched this morning.
Police have the apartment contained and attempts are being made to contact the occupants.
The Finch Court area has been secured by law enforcement authorities and students
in the immediate area have been evacuated to safe locations. Efforts are being made
to have a peaceful solution to the situation.
Local police did take a female subject into custody and she is being questioned by
the Mecosta County Sheriff's Department.
People are asked to avoid the area as law enforcement officials work toward a safe
resolution to the situation. Students in residence halls and apartments near the Finch
Court area are asked to remain in the safety of their halls.
The victim of the shooting was treated and released from the hospital.
For more information: www.ferris.edu
UPDATE: Saturday, Feb. 1 at 4:14 p.m.
Police officers have searched two apartments at Finch Court on the Ferris State University
Big Rapids campus. The searches have not led authorities to the suspect connected
with an off-campus shooting earlier this morning (Saturday, Feb. 1).
Ferris police, working in cooperation with the Big Rapids Department of Public Safety,
the Mecosta County Sheriff’s Department and the state’s emergency support tactical
team, earlier today located a vehicle believed to be involved in the incident that
was parked in the vicinity of Finch Court, located a mile from where the shooting
took place off campus at Venlo Place apartments. Search warrants were secured to enter
two Finch Court apartments, but neither was occupied.
As police continue their search for the suspect, activities will resume on the Big Rapids campus. The youth hockey tournament in the Ferris ice arena, suspended earlier today, will resume at 4:30 p.m. The ice arena will open at 4 p.m. The Festival of the Arts film event, scheduled for 7 p.m. in IRC will go on as scheduled. (UPDATE: The Festival of the Arts event has been canceled.)
The suspect is described as a 6-foot African-American male with dreadlocks, age 20-25, 150-180 lbs., and was wearing black cargo pants, a red sweatshirt and black vest.
To the extent they feel comfortable, students and community members should exercise caution as they move about the Big Rapids campus and surrounding areas. Students, who may be moving between residence halls and the Rock Café, are encouraged to use the buddy system. Westside Café will remain closed for tonight, but will resume normal business hours on Sunday, Feb. 2.
Students and visitors to campus should expect an increased police presence as a safety precaution as the investigation and search for the suspect continues.
Anyone with information is urged to call Ferris DPS at (231) 591-5000.
Information updates will continue to be posted on www.ferris.edu as they become available.
UPDATE: Saturday, Feb. 1 at 11:07 a.m.
Ferris State University and Big Rapids police authorities continue to contain the Ferris campus and surrounding area in search of a suspected shooter who, earlier this morning, entered an off-campus apartment at Venlo Place in Big Rapids and shot a man, who is a Ferris student. The man shot is being transferred to Spectrum Hospital in Grand Rapids and is not believed to have sustained life-threatening injuries.
Authorities are securing Venlo Place and residences on Finch Court, well as other areas of campus. Big Rapids residents also are being notified of the situation so they can take necessary precautions.
Residents are still strongly being urged to stay inside and exercise extreme caution until the shooter has been apprehended. The suspect is described as a 6-foot African-American male with dreadlocks, age 20-25, 150-180 lbs., and was wearing black cargo pants, a red sweatshirt and black vest. Anyone with information is urged to call Ferris DPS at 591-5000.
All activities on the Ferris campus scheduled for today, Saturday, Feb. 1, will be canceled or suspended. Canceled events include the men's and women's basketball games against Saginaw Valley State University and the Big Rapids High School hockey game and a youth hockey tournament. A youth hockey tournament, scheduled to be played on campus, is suspended until 6 p.m.
Counseling services are being made available to Ferris students impacted by this incident.
The Rock Café and the FLITE Library will be open. The Student Recreation Center opens at 12 p.m.
Information updates will continue to be posted on www.ferris.edu as they become available.
UPDATE: Saturday, Feb. 1 at 7:09 a.m.
Ferris State University Police and the Big Rapids Department of Public Safety are investigating a shooting that took place at Venlo Place off campus in Big Rapids at about 4:15 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1. A male, who is believed to be a Ferris student, was shot by an unknown suspect and has been hospitalized. DPS is containing an area on campus near Finch Court where the suspected shooter is believed to be located. RESIDENTS IN AND AROUND THIS AREA ARE ADVISED TO STAY INSIDE, EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION AND NOTIFY PUBLIC SAFETY at (231) 591-5000 OF ANY SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOR. The suspect is believed to be a tall, African-American male with dreadlocks. More information will be posted on www.ferris.edu as it becomes available.