Campus Alert Archive
MSU

Two students assaulted in the main library; classified as a hate crime

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MIaggravated assaulttimely warninghigh confidence
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Confirmed Threat

A group of approximately five suspects assaulted two students in the Michigan State University Main Library on April 15, 2024, the assault occurred at approximately 5:45 p.m. EDT and was reported to MSU Police at 5:50 p.m. EDT, targeting the victims because of their sexual orientation. MSU Police and Public Safety classified the incident as a hate crime and aggravated assault and issued a timely warning to the campus community that evening.

Alerts
1
Response
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Killed
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Injured
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Institution
Michigan State University
Public R1 · MI
All MSU cases →
~50,000 studentsEverbridgeMSU Alert
Official alert policy
Read when and how MSU says it will use MSU Alert: summarized, quoted, and analyzed.
Documented Timeline

Alert Sequence

1 message in sequence · 1 verified verbatim

Confirmed wording is transcribed character-for-character from a primary source. Use Verify this quote under each message to open that source in a new tab and compare the text yourself.

INITIAL ALERTEmail
Verified verbatim1204 chars
MSU Timely Warning MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY – POLICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY TIMELY WARNING Occurring the East Lansing campus Reported by Michigan State University Police The following message contains information that may cause distress to some individuals. Date Reported: April 15, 2024 Approximately 5:50 p.m. Date Occurred: April 15, 2024 Approximately 5:45 p.m. Location: MSU Library- 366 W. Circle Drive Description of Incident: On April 15, 2024 at Approximately 5:50 p.m., Michigan State University Police received a report of Hate Crime – Aggravated Assault that occurred at the East Lansing campus – MSU Library- 366 W. Circle Drive. A group of approximately five (5) suspects assaulted two (2) victims, intentionally selecting the victim(s) because of the perpetrator’s sexual orientation bias. Suspect Information: Suspect 1 teenage black male, wearing khaki shorts, mountain dew t-shirt, locs. Suspect 2 teenage black male, wearing white hooded sweatshirt, black pants. Suspect 3 teenage black male wearing white t-shirt, white shorts, and locs. Suspect 4 teenage black male wearing red pants and black shirt, white sweatshirt. Suspect 5 teenage black male wearing white t-shirt, green s…
Verify this quote
MSU Alert official archive (verbatim)alert.msu.eduarchived copy
This is the verbatim Clery bias-designation sentence from the timely warning, the framing 'intentionally selecting the victim(s) because of the perpetrator's [protected class] bias' tracks exactly the Department of Education's Clery Act Handbook hate-crime classification template
The hate-crime category based on sexual orientation bias is reportable under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act
The MSU Library is one of the most heavily trafficked buildings on campus, making a 5:50 p.m. EDT assault there during the academic term particularly alarming for community safety
Supervisor rule-0 audit (2026-07-18): demoted from isVerbatimConfirmed:true -- the stored text breaks off mid-word ('green s…') at exactly the point a search-engine snippet of this page would truncate, indicating it was captured from an indexed excerpt rather than the full source page, which GROK.md's evidence bar categorically disallows for a confirmed flag.
Message elements

How the first alert is built

To check this alert, Claude (an AI) read it in full 25 separate times, independently. Each read decided whether the message answers each of the six questions and gave a short reason. A final reviewer then weighed all 25 and wrote the plain-English verdict you see when you open a row. The score (for example 22/25) is how many reads agreed; the 25 individual reads are tucked underneath if you want to check them.

MSU Timely Warning MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY – POLICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY TIMELY WARNING Occurring the East Lansing campus Reported by Michigan State University Police The following message contains information that may cause distress to some individuals. Date Reported: April 15, 2024 Approximately 5:50 p.m. Date Occurred: April 15, 2024 Approximately 5:45 p.m. Location: MSU Library- 366 W. Circle Drive Description of Incident: On April 15, 2024 at Approximately 5:50 p.m., Michigan State University Police received a report of Hate Crime – Aggravated Assault that occurred at the East Lansing campus – MSU Library- 366 W. Circle Drive. A group of approximately five (5) suspects assaulted two (2) victims, intentionally selecting the victim(s) because of the perpetrator’s sexual orientation bias. Suspect Information: Suspect 1 teenage black male, wearing khaki shorts, mountain dew t-shirt, locs. Suspect 2 teenage black male, wearing white hooded sweatshirt, black pants. Suspect 3 teenage black male wearing white t-shirt, white shorts, and locs. Suspect 4 teenage black male wearing red pants and black shirt, white sweatshirt. Suspect 5 teenage black male wearing white t-shirt, green s…

  • Sourceabsent0/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads agree the sender is absent: the text describes the assault but names no sender, agency, or branded signature.

    Who is sending the alert and who is responding. People act faster on a message from a clearly identifiable, credible sender, such as a named department, the police, or a branded alert system, than on an anonymous notice. A branded signature counts.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. absent: No sender, branded tag, or issuing authority is named in the text.
    2. absent: No sender, agency, or branded signature appears in this excerpt.
    3. absent: The text describes the assault but names no sender, agency, or branded signature.
    4. absent: No sender, branded signature, or issuing authority is named in the text.
    5. absent: No sender, branded signature, or named authority appears in the text.
    6. absent: No sender, branded signature, or responding authority is identified in the text.
    7. absent: No sender, branded signature, or named authority appears in the text.
    8. absent: No sender tag or agency named; the institution does not name itself in the text.
    9. absent: No branded signature or named sender or authority appears in the message.
    10. absent: No sender, branded tag, or named authority appears in the text.
    11. absent: No sender, branded signature, or issuing authority is named in the text.
    12. absent: No sender, branded signature, or authority is named in the text.
    13. absent: No sender, agency, or branded signature is identified in the text.
    14. absent: No sender tag, branded signature, or responding authority appears in the text.
    15. absent: No sender tag, university name, or agency is identified in this text.
    16. absent: No sender, branded signature, or authority is identified in the text.
    17. absent: No sender, branded signature, or named authority appears in the text.
    18. absent: No sender tag, university name, or agency signature appears in the provided text.
    19. absent: No sender, branded signature, or responding authority is named in the excerpt.
    20. absent: No sender, branded signature, or issuing authority is named in the text.
    21. absent: No sender, branded signature, or responding authority is named in the text.
    22. absent: No sender, agency, or branded signature is identified in the text.
    23. absent: No branded signature, university name, or named agency identifies the sender in the text.
    24. absent: No sender, branded signature, or agency is named in the text.
    25. absent: No sender name, branded signature, or responding authority is identified in the text.
  • Hazardpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Unanimous that the hazard is named, a bias-motivated assault in which "five suspects assaulted two victims".

    What the threat actually is. A complete warning names the specific danger, such as a shooter, a fire, a tornado, or a gas leak, rather than a vague emergency, because people decide what to do based on what they are facing.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Names the specific hazard "assaulted two victims" in a bias-motivated attack.
    2. present: Names the hazard, a bias-motivated assault, "five suspects assaulted two victims".
    3. present: It names that suspects "assaulted two victims" in a bias-motivated hate crime, a specific threat.
    4. present: It names a bias-motivated "assault", a specific hate-crime hazard.
    5. present: Names an assault selecting victims "because of... sexual orientation bias", a specific hate crime.
    6. present: Names the specific crime: an assault where five suspects intentionally targeted victims for "sexual orientation bias".
    7. present: Names a bias-motivated assault of "two victims", a specific hate-crime threat.
    8. present: Names suspects who "assaulted two victims", a bias-motivated assault threat.
    9. present: Names the specific hazard: a hate-crime assault where "five suspects assaulted two victims" due to sexual-orientation bias.
    10. present: Names the specific threat, an "assault" that was a bias/hate crime based on "sexual orientation bias".
    11. present: Names the hazard: a bias-motivated assault selecting victims by "sexual orientation bias".
    12. present: Names the hazard as a bias-motivated assault where suspects "assaulted two victims".
    13. present: Names the hazard: an assault where "five suspects assaulted two victims" based on bias.
    14. present: Names the hazard as an assault selecting victims for "sexual orientation bias", a hate-crime assault.
    15. present: Names the hazard as a bias-motivated assault by "five suspects".
    16. present: Names the hazard as an assault, a bias/hate crime: victims selected "because of ... sexual orientation bias".
    17. present: Names the hazard as an assault: "approximately five suspects assaulted two victims" with a bias motive.
    18. present: Names a bias-motivated assault where suspects "assaulted two victims", a specific threat.
    19. present: Names that suspects "assaulted two victims" in a bias-motivated attack, a specific threat.
    20. present: Names the hazard, an assault as a bias crime based on "sexual orientation bias".
    21. present: Names the hazard as a bias-motivated assault where "approximately five suspects assaulted two victims".
    22. present: Names an "assault" motivated by "sexual orientation bias", a specific hate-crime threat.
    23. present: It names a specific threat, a bias-motivated assault, "approximately five suspects assaulted two victims".
    24. present: It names an assault where suspects "intentionally selecting the victim(s) because of ... sexual orientation bias".
    25. present: Names the hazard, an assault, "A group of approximately five suspects assaulted two victims".
  • Locationabsent0/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads find no location named: no building, street, or campus area appears.

    Where the threat is. Saying whether danger is in a specific building, a part of campus, or area-wide lets people judge their own proximity and choose a safe direction. Without a where, a warning is hard to act on precisely.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. absent: No specific building, street, or area is named in the text.
    2. absent: No building, place, or campus area is named in the text.
    3. absent: No building, street, or "campus" location is stated in the text.
    4. absent: No building, area, or "campus" location is named in the text.
    5. absent: No building, area, or campus location is stated in the text.
    6. absent: No building, street, area, or "campus" is specified in the text.
    7. absent: No building, area, or place is named in the text.
    8. absent: No building, street, or campus location is named in the text.
    9. absent: No building, area, street, or "campus" is named in the text.
    10. absent: No building, area, or "campus" location is specified in the text.
    11. absent: No building, area, or place is identified.
    12. absent: No building, street, area, or "campus" is specified in the text.
    13. absent: No building, street, campus, or area is named in the text.
    14. absent: No building, area, or campus location is named in the text.
    15. absent: No specific place or location is named in this text.
    16. absent: No building, area, or "campus" location is named in the text.
    17. absent: No building, area, or campus location is stated in the text.
    18. absent: No building, area, or campus location is stated in the text.
    19. absent: No building, area, or campus location is specified in the excerpt.
    20. absent: No building, street, campus, or place is named in the text.
    21. absent: No building, street, place, or "campus" is named in the text.
    22. absent: No building, area, or place is named in the text.
    23. absent: No building, area, or location is named in the text.
    24. absent: No building, street, area, or place is named in the text.
    25. absent: No building, street, area, or campus location is stated in the text.
  • Guidanceabsent0/25

    Final assessment

    Unanimous that no protective action is directed to recipients.

    The protective action to take. A clear, specific instruction, such as shelter in place, evacuate, avoid the area, or run-hide-fight, drives faster and more correct protective behavior than describing the threat alone.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. absent: No protective action is directed to recipients.
    2. absent: No protective action is directed at recipients in the text.
    3. absent: It reports the assault but gives recipients no protective instruction.
    4. absent: No protective action is directed to recipients in the text.
    5. absent: No protective action instruction is given to recipients.
    6. absent: No protective action instruction is directed to recipients in the text.
    7. absent: No protective action instruction is given to recipients.
    8. absent: Describes the assault but gives recipients no protective instruction.
    9. absent: Describes the assault but gives no protective action instruction to recipients.
    10. absent: No protective action is directed to recipients.
    11. absent: Describes the incident; gives recipients no protective action.
    12. absent: No protective action is instructed to recipients.
    13. absent: No protective action instruction to recipients is given.
    14. absent: Describes the assault but gives recipients no protective action instruction.
    15. absent: No protective action instruction is given to recipients in the text.
    16. absent: Gives recipients no protective action; it describes the incident only.
    17. absent: No protective action is instructed in the text.
    18. absent: No protective action is directed to recipients in this text.
    19. absent: Describes the incident but gives recipients no protective action to take.
    20. absent: Provides no protective action for recipients to take.
    21. absent: No protective action is directed to recipients; it only describes the assault.
    22. absent: Describes the incident but gives no protective action to recipients.
    23. absent: It describes the incident but gives recipients no protective action instruction.
    24. absent: It gives recipients no protective action to take.
    25. absent: The text describes the bias-motivated assault but gives no protective action to recipients.
  • Timeabsent0/25

    Final assessment

    Unanimous that timing is absent: no clock time, date, or recency cue appears.

    When the message applies. A timestamp, the word now or immediately, or a phrase like until further notice tells the reader whether the danger is current and how quickly to act.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears in the text.
    2. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears in the text.
    3. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue such as "now" appears in the text.
    4. absent: No clock time, date, or recency word appears in the text.
    5. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue such as "now" appears.
    6. absent: No clock time, date, or recency word appears in the text.
    7. absent: No clock time, date, or recency word appears in the text.
    8. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue is given in the text.
    9. absent: No clock time, date, or recency word like "now" appears in the text.
    10. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears in the text.
    11. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears in the text.
    12. absent: No clock time, date, or recency word appears in the text.
    13. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears in the text.
    14. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears in the text.
    15. absent: No clock time, date, or recency word appears in the text.
    16. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue is given in the text.
    17. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears in the text.
    18. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears in the text.
    19. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue is present in the excerpt.
    20. absent: No clock time, date, or recency word appears in the text.
    21. absent: No clock time, date, or recency word appears in the text.
    22. absent: No clock time, date, or recency word appears in the text.
    23. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue such as "now" appears in the text.
    24. absent: No clock time, date, or recency word appears in the text.
    25. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue such as "now" appears in the text.
  • Impactpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present by unanimous agreement; the bias-motivated assault on two victims by a group states harm done to people.

    What the hazard could do to the people in its path. Beyond naming the threat, a complete warning conveys its potential consequences or severity, such as that a tornado can level buildings or that a leak could be explosive, so recipients grasp how much danger they are in. Research on warning message content finds that a concrete impact statement helps people personalize their risk and act sooner.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: It reports an assault on two victims, a stated harm to people.
    2. present: Reports an actual assault of two victims, a stated harm to people.
    3. present: Reports that suspects assaulted two victims in a bias-motivated attack, a stated harm to people.
    4. present: Reports an assault on two victims, a stated harm to people.
    5. present: The text reports that five suspects assaulted two victims, describing actual physical harm done.
    6. present: It reports that suspects assaulted two victims, a stated harm to people.
    7. present: Reports that five suspects assaulted two victims, a clearly stated physical harm to people.
    8. present: Reports that a group assaulted two victims, a stated harm to people.
    9. present: States two victims were assaulted in a bias-motivated attack, a clearly stated harm to people.
    10. present: The text reports an actual assault of two victims, a stated harm to people.
    11. present: It reports that two victims were assaulted, a stated harm to people.
    12. present: Reports an assault on two victims by a group of suspects, a clearly stated harm to people.
    13. present: It reports an actual assault of two victims, a stated harm to people.
    14. present: Reports that two victims were assaulted in a bias-motivated attack, a clear stated harm to people.
    15. present: It reports that a group assaulted two victims in a bias-motivated attack, a stated harm to people.
    16. present: Reports that suspects assaulted two victims, a stated harm to people.
    17. present: Reports an assault on two victims by about five suspects, a stated harm to people.
    18. present: It reports an assault where two victims were attacked, a clearly stated harm to people.
    19. present: It reports an assault on two victims, a clearly stated harm to people.
    20. present: Reports an assault on two victims selected for bias, a clearly stated harm to people.
    21. present: It reports that suspects physically assaulted two victims in a bias-motivated attack, a stated harm to people.
    22. present: It reports two victims were assaulted in a bias-motivated attack, a clearly stated harm to people.
    23. present: Reports an assault on two victims by five suspects, which is a stated harm to people.
    24. present: Reports that five suspects physically assaulted two victims, a stated harm to people.
    25. present: Reports that suspects assaulted two victims, a stated harm to people.

Systematic AI judgments with visible reasoning, not human-validated codings.

About this analysis
Context

Background

The April 2024 hate crime at the MSU Main Library drew significant media attention and community concern. According to the State News, victims Bradley Cooper and Ryon Baldwin-Williams were studying in the library when a group began insulting their appearances before the altercation escalated into a physical assault. The victims sustained significant injuries. MSU Police identified seven suspects the following day, none of whom were affiliated with the university. In July 2024, four minors were charged with two counts of aggravated assault each. The victims publicly called for increased security at the MSU Library in the wake of the attack. This incident occurred just over a year after the February 2023 mass shooting on campus, adding to a sense of vulnerability among students.
Analysis

Key Findings

All seven identified suspects were unaffiliated with MSU, raising questions about open-campus security policies and the vulnerability of public university spaces to outside actors
The hate crime classification based on sexual orientation bias makes this one of the relatively rare Clery timely warnings issued for bias-motivated aggravated assaults
The incident occurred just 14 months after the February 2023 mass shooting at MSU, compounding community trauma and intensifying demands for security improvements
Four of the seven suspects were minors, which complicated prosecution and limited public information available about the case
Outcome
Seven suspects identified, none affiliated with MSU. Four minors charged with two counts of aggravated assault each. Case referred to Ingham County Prosecutor's Office.
Provenance

Sources

Every claim on this page is meant to be checkable. Open the links below—and the Verify this quote control under each confirmed alert—to read the original university, news, or archive page yourself. Hostnames are shown so you can see where you are going; archived copies survive when live pages move or disappear. See also our methodology.

  1. Official
    MSU Alert Timely Warning — Hate Crime Aggravated Assault (MSU Alert official archive)
    alert.msu.edu
    archived copy
  2. Student Paper
    Seven suspects identified in hate crime, aggravated assault at MSU Library - The State News
    statenews.com
    archived copy
  3. Official
    MSU DPPS identifies suspects in assault investigation
    dpps.msu.edu
    archived copy
  4. Student Paper
    Four minors charged in MSU library hate crime - The State News
    statenews.com
    archived copy
  5. Student Paper
    Victims of hate crime want more security at MSU Library - The State News
    statenews.com
    archived copy
  6. Official
    MSU Alert — alert-issued-at-04-15-2024-090446-pm-edt
    alert.msu.edu
    archived copy
Cite this case

Campus Alert Archive. "Michigan State University: Two students assaulted in the main library; classified as a hate crime." Incident of April 15, 2024. Added April 2026; last updated July 2026. https://campusalertarchive.com/case/michigan-state-university-hate-crime-assault-2024-04-15/

Download case JSON

Alert text quoted on this page remains the work of the issuing institution; the archive is a secondary source.

Tags
aggravated-assaulthate-crimetimely-warningsexual-orientation-biasmichiganlibrarynon-affiliate-suspects
Added April 2026Updated July 2026Via ingestion