One suspect is in police custody after a Michigan college baseball player was shot several times immediately following a game in Ohio on Friday evening, authorities announced.
Muskingum University President Sue Hasseler said in a statement on Saturday morning that the victim, a player from the visiting Olivet College baseball team, was taken to the hospital where they are currently being treated — the player's condition is stable at this time.
Hasseler called the incident "distressing" and said emergency personnel immediately responded to the incident after the first 911 call was received just after 7 p.m. for shots fired at Moorehead Baseball Field on campus.
According to Olivet, a member of their team returned to the dugout right after the completion of their game to retrieve an item he had left behind. When he did so, officials said an "incident" occurred involving an individual with a gun.
"After providing assistance to the player and evacuating the remaining spectators from the immediate area, the entire campus was asked to shelter in place as the suspect was still at large," the Muskingum president continued.
The victim was taken to the hospital by EMS personnel while law enforcement from Muskingum University, New Concord Police Department and the Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office began investigating immediately.
At 7:45 p.m., authorities announced they had the suspected shooter in custody. Nearly an hour an a half later, the shelter-in-place order was lifted and the campus was deemed safe "once law enforcement professionals has determined that it was appropriate."
Hasseler said the university was notified of the player's condition by the sheriff's office and the local prosecutor, "otherwise, we will respect the privacy of the injured student, as we all await further reports of his condition at such time as he and his family think best."
"As soon as additional information is released, we will pass it along to you," the president conditioned in her message. "In the meantime, our thoughts and prayers go out to this young man, his family and his teammates."
Other players and staff from Olivet remaining on campus were offered assistance and care following the incident, while the university provided counseling and support to Muskingum students and staff affected by the events.
Hasseler said the local sheriff's office and prosecutor informed her that the suspect in custody is not a student or staff member from Muskingum University.
The shooting remains under police investigation, but Hasseler assumed the campus community that there is no continued threat to the university at this time.
The president said all athletics events have been suspended over the weekend as they continue to support their students.
"Muskingum is committed to protecting the health and well being of all our faculty, staff and students and will continue to create the sage and nurturing environment that has served out campus community in the past and will serve us well into the future," Hasseler wrote.
Olivet, a Division III school located 30 miles southwest of Lansing, was in Ohio to play two games against Muskingum and two against Penn State-Behrend.
On the night of the shooting, Olivet secured its first win over Muskingum, beating them 8-6, after starting the season 0-12.
College officials for Olivet said the rest of the team "is safe, spent the night safely at their hotel, and is now returning to Olivet."
The Comet's other three games in Ohio have been canceled.
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