EAST LANSING (WWJ) - Anger, sadness and grim determination sparked off the latest update to the Michigan State University mass shooting on Tuesday morning as officials vowed to put a stop to the "senseless violence."
"As the representative of Oxford, Michigan, I cannot believe I am here again doing this 15 months later," Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin stated during an 8 a.m. press conference referencing the deadly Oxford High School shooting in November of 2021.
"I am filled with rage that we have to have another press conference to talk about our children being killed in their schools and would say that you either care about protecting kids or you don't," Slotkin continued with intensity. "You either care about having an open, honest conversation about what is going on in our society or you don't, but please don't tell me you care about the safety of children if you're not willing to have a conversation about keeping them safe in a place that should be a sanctuary.
Slotkin praised the outpouring of support and unity of students, staff and community in wake of the tragedy on Monday evening, calling the Spartan community "incredibly connected and proud."
But she said a particular image captured on TV and social media of people waiting outside in groups surrounded by police lights grabbed her attention.
"For me, the most haunting picture of last night was watching the cameras pan through the crowds and seeing a young person wearing an 'Oxford Strong' sweatshirt, the sweatshirts that were handed out after those kids lived through a school shooting 15 months ago," the congresswoman said. "And we have children in Michigan that are living through their second school shooting in under a year and a half.
If this is not a wake up call to do something, I don't know what is."
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was also in attendance to speak on the tragedy that claimed the lives of three people and injured five others — police confirmed in the same briefing that all the shooting victims were university students.
"We're all broken but an all too familiar feeling another place that is supposed to be about community and togetherness shattered by bullets and bloodshed," the governor stated. Whitmer went on to call last night's mass shooting a "uniquely American problem."
"Today is the fifth anniversary of the Parkland shooting," she continued. "We're mere weeks past the Lunar New Year shooting at a dance hall and a few months past a shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde. Looking back at a year marked by shootings at grocery stores, parades and so many other ordinary, everyday situations.
We cannot keep living like this. Our children are scared to go to school people feel unsafe in their houses of worship or local stores. too many of us scan rooms for exists when we enter them and many of us have gone through the grim exercise of figuring out who our last call would be to. Last night, a lot of kids on this campus made those calls," Whitmer said through tears.
"As parents we tell our kids 'it's going to be OK.' We say that all the time, but the truth is words are not good enough," the governor stated. "We must act and we will. but today lets hold MSU and East Lansing communities close and think of families and friends of those who have lost, those fighting for their lives and the countless Michiganders whose lives are forever changed by yesterday's shooting.
We will get through this together," Whitmer added.
Marlon C. Lynch, Vice President for Public Safety and Chief of Police for Michigan State University said the department along with numerous police departments from as far away as Oakland County have been working tirelessly throughout the night processing crime scenes.
His voice broke several times as he addressed the crowd of reporters, stating the shooting struck at the heart of MSU police officers in more ways than one.
"We went to school here, we have children here, we have family -- this is us, this is part of us," Lynch of his officers and the countless partners who responded within minutes of the first report of shots fired.
Lynch vowed that they will continue to investigate and come forward with additional information as it becomes available.
This is a developing story. Stayed tuned to WWJ LIVE for the latest updates.
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