{ "id": "2025-02-26-michigan-state-university-online-threat", "slug": "michigan-state-university-online-threat-2025-02-26", "institution": { "name": "Michigan State University", "shortName": "MSU", "state": "MI", "type": "public-r1", "alertSystemName": "MSU Alert", "enrollment": 50000 }, "incident": { "date": "2025-02-26", "type": "threat-of-violence", "cleryCategory": "emergency-notification", "resolution": "confirmed-hoax", "headline": "Threat of violence, February 26, 2025", "summary": "On February 26, 2025, an [anonymous threat posted to the MSU 2028 Snapchat page](https://statenews.com/article/2025/02/person-of-interest-in-custody-following-social-media-threat-toward-msu) referencing the February 2023 campus shooting that killed three students prompted an immediate investigation by MSU Police. An [18-year-old female student was taken into custody](https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/michigan-state-university-student-in-custody-after-police-investigate-online-threat/) within 52 minutes and charged with false report of terrorism.", "outcome": "The 18-year-old female MSU student was charged by the Ingham County Prosecutor's Office with one felony count of false report of terrorism and using a computer to commit a crime." }, "alerts": [ { "sequence": 1, "type": "initial", "timestampApprox": "Approximately 2:00 PM EST on February 26, 2025", "channel": "twitter-x", "verbatimText": "At 2pm today, MSU received information about a threat to our community that was posted anonymously online. MSU Police officers acted immediately to identify the person(s) responsible for the threat. MSU DPPS was able to contact a person of interest and currently have them in custody. We can confirm that there is no current threat to our community. \n\nWe will provide further updates as they become available.", "isVerbatimConfirmed": true, "sourceDescription": "@msupolice on X (verbatim community alert)", "annotations": [ "The threat was posted to the MSU 2028 page on Snapchat and referenced the February 13, 2023 campus shooting", "Channel corrected to twitter-x; official @msupolice status is the recovered full text." ], "characterCount": 412, "sourceUrl": "https://x.com/msupolice/status/1894849734315254195" }, { "sequence": 2, "type": "update", "timestampApprox": "Approximately 2:52 PM EST on February 26, 2025", "channel": "twitter-x", "verbatimText": "On February 26, 2025, at approximately 2:00 p.m. , the Michigan State University Department of Police and Public Safety (DPPS) received information about a threat to the MSU Community that was posted anonymously online. \nMembers of the DPPS immediately began to investigate the threat in an attempt to identify the person(s) responsible for the threat. At approximately 2:52 pm, DPPS was able to make contact with a person of interest in the 800 block of Chestnut. That subject was taken into custody and was transported to DPPS Headquarters for further investigation. As a result of the DPPS investigation, probable cause was established that this subject was responsible for posting the threat and was taken into custody.  \nThe accused subject was transported and lodged at Ingham County Sherrif’s Office, pending felony charges. The accused is identified as an 18-year-old female MSU Student. \nMSU DPPS is seeking the following felony charges through the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office for the following charge:  \n750.543p Internet or telecommunications or electronic device prohibited use.\nAt this time, there is no current threat to the MSU Community. MSU DPPS will update the case once more information is available.\nIf you have any additional information, please contact MSU Police and Public Safety at 517-355-2221, or 911 for emergencies. For non-emergencies, text MSUDPPS to 274637 along with your message. \nMSU Police and Public Safety stands committed to ensuring the safety of our campus.", "isVerbatimConfirmed": true, "sourceUrl": "https://x.com/msupolice/status/1894891547038019954", "sourceDescription": "@msupolice on X (verbatim raw t.co)", "annotations": [ "The suspect was transported to DPPS Headquarters for further investigation", "Preserves official typo \"Sherrif’s\" and \"p.m. ,\" spacing from the X post." ], "characterCount": 1504 } ], "context": "On February 26, 2025, at approximately 2:00 PM EST, the [Michigan State University Department of Police and Public Safety received information](https://dpps.msu.edu/news-and-alerts/news/suspect-charged-in-online-threat-incident) about a threat to the MSU community posted anonymously on Snapchat. The threat appeared on the MSU 2028 Snapchat page and [referenced the February 13, 2023 campus shooting](https://statenews.com/article/2025/02/person-of-interest-in-custody-following-social-media-threat-toward-msu) in which a gunman killed three students and wounded five others. MSU Police quickly identified a person of interest and [made contact at approximately 2:52 PM in the 800 block of Chestnut](https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/michigan-state-university-student-in-custody-after-police-investigate-online-threat/), taking the suspect into custody just 52 minutes after receiving the report. The [Ingham County Prosecutor's Office charged the 18-year-old female MSU student](https://www.wkar.org/wkar-news/2025-02-27/msu-student-in-custody-school-seeking-felony-charges-for-alleged-online-threat) with one felony count of false report of terrorism and using a computer to commit a crime. The incident underscored the heightened sensitivity of the MSU community in the wake of the 2023 mass shooting.", "keyFindings": [ "MSU Police identified and arrested the suspect within 52 minutes of receiving the threat report", "The anonymous Snapchat post specifically referenced the February 2023 campus shooting that killed three students", "The suspect was charged with felony false report of terrorism and using a computer to commit a crime" ], "responseTimeMinutes": 52, "sources": [ { "title": "@msupolice detailed online-threat update on X", "url": "https://x.com/msupolice/status/1894891547038019954", "type": "official-social" }, { "title": "@msupolice initial online-threat alert on X", "url": "https://x.com/msupolice/status/1894849734315254195", "type": "official-social" }, { "title": "Suspect Charged in Online Threat Incident (MSU DPPS)", "url": "https://dpps.msu.edu/news-and-alerts/news/suspect-charged-in-online-threat-incident", "type": "official-archive" }, { "title": "Suspect Arrested by MSU Police for Online Threat (MSU DPPS)", "url": "https://dpps.msu.edu/news-and-alerts/news/suspect-arrested-by-msu-police-for-online-threat", "type": "official-archive" }, { "title": "Michigan State University student in custody after police investigate online threat (CBS Detroit)", "url": "https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/michigan-state-university-student-in-custody-after-police-investigate-online-threat/", "type": "local-media" }, { "title": "Person of interest in custody following social media threat toward MSU (The State News)", "url": "https://statenews.com/article/2025/02/person-of-interest-in-custody-following-social-media-threat-toward-msu", "type": "student-newspaper" }, { "title": "MSU student in custody, school seeking felony charges for alleged online threat (WKAR)", "url": "https://www.wkar.org/wkar-news/2025-02-27/msu-student-in-custody-school-seeking-felony-charges-for-alleged-online-threat", "type": "local-media" } ], "confidence": "high", "tags": [ "threat-of-violence", "social-media-threat", "snapchat", "false-report-of-terrorism", "student-suspect", "michigan", "msu", "2023-shooting-reference", "rapid-police-response" ], "dateAdded": "2026-05-03", "lastUpdated": "2026-07-18", "addedBy": "ingestion" }