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MSU students return home to Chicago area, recount deadly campus shooting
As students recount their experiences from the Michigan State University mass shooting, their stories are all too familiar.
CHICAGO - Following Monday’s deadly shooting at Michigan State University, campus activities remain suspended while law enforcement officials investigate. As a result, many students have returned home to be with their families.
"There were a lot of police officers, we saw the FBI packing their stuff up, we saw a military helicopter that took up an entire field across from Berkey Hall," said Anna Morrill, a freshman student at MSU.
As students recount their experiences from the mass shooting, their stories are all too familiar.
"We had like all the doors barricaded," said Anna Morrill.
Anna Morrill was in a chapter meeting at her sorority house when word spread across campus that a gunman was at-large.
Anna's mom, Melissa, drove to East Lansing on Tuesday morning to pick her up.
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Sadly, this now marks the second time Melissa Morrill has experienced something like this as a parent.
Last August, her son was at Six Flags when gunfire erupted – injuring three people.
"We have two children and both of them have been in an active shooter crisis in two different states – one in Illinois and one in Michigan, and my thought was, ‘how is this possible?’" said Melissa Morrill.
Morrill also drove two other students home, including Laura Feinberg's son, Jack.
"It's the scariest thing. You send your kid to college and you think everything is going to be safe and fine," said Feinberg, MSU parent.
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Michigan State shooting: Chicago mother of student recounts learning about campus shooting
Following the deadly shooting on Michigan State University’s campus, local families whose children attend the school reacted to the terrifying situation. Laura Feinberg says she was in shock when her freshman son Jack called Monday night -- the reality of the situation, soon settling in.
Feinberg was out of town on business when her son called, telling her he was outside of the MSU Union, and students were running.
"It hit me several hours later, and I just kind of lost it," said Feinberg. "He’s fine, he’s ok, they had everybody on lockdown, they sealed up the dorm, nobody could come and go."
She wanted to drive to the university last night, but heeded officials' warnings when they asked parents to hold off, as the active search for the gunman – at that time – was still underway.
So far in 2023, there have already been dozens of mass shootings – and parents like Feinberg say something needs to be done.
"You can't control it, and then the question comes up, what is our government going to do and that’s when you start getting mad," said Feinberg.
Campus activities were initially suspended for 48 hours – through Wednesday – but MSU officials confirmed to FOX 32 Chicago that classes are now canceled through the end of the week and are expected to resume on Monday, Feb. 20.