Spartan community is reeling today.
I want to start by thanking law enforcement,
including the Michigan State University
police, the Michigan State Police,
the FBI, all of our local agencies,
first responders, local departments.
And officers as far away as Oakland
County for their efforts last night.
Also want to thank the incredible
medical professionals at Spiro who are
working hard to care for those injured.
As well as all the community
members that shared tips so that.
Our law enforcement could act.
We mourn the loss of beautiful souls today.
And pray for those who are
continuing to fight for their lives.
Every Spartan student, parent,
and staff member should know
that Michiganders and Americans
everywhere are thinking of you today.
President Biden and I spoke last night.
He pledged his support and the
thoughts of an entire nation,
and we will work together to do what is
necessary to help MSU community heal.
We're all broken by an
all too familiar feeling.
Another place that is supposed to
be about community and togetherness
shattered by bullets and bloodshed.
We know this is a uniquely American problem.
Today is the 5th anniversary
of the Parkland shooting.
We're mere weeks past the Lunar
New Year shooting at a dance hall.
And a few months passed a shooting
at an elementary school in Uvalde.
And 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
exits 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.
They worried for their
lives and for their friends,
for their fellow Spartans.
Parents across Michigan were on
pins and needles calling their kids
to tell them that they love them.
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.
We must act and we will.
But today, let's hold the MSU and
East Lansing communities close,
and let's think of the families
and friends of those who have lost
those fighting for their lives.
And the countless Michiganders who lives
are forever changed by yesterday's shooting.
We will get through this together.
And we will do it with the full
support of the state of Michigan.
In the US federal government.
And with that.
I would like to hand this over to
our congresswoman Elissa Slotkin.
Thanks, governor.
I want to echo what the governor said
about the response of law enforcement,
those of you who might have
been listening on the scanner.
You heard how deeply complex
this operation was yesterday,
with young people calling in tips
constantly with a just an unbelievable,
unbelievably difficult area
of environment to navigate.
Law enforcement did an incredible job.
We had hundreds respond
from across the state.
And I just, I think it's a testament to
those who hold the thin blue line for us,
the ones that hesitate,
do not hesitate when we need them.
And I think we should recognize how
desperately needed they were last night.
In an Arctic society in general.
I want to thank the doctors and
nurses and staff at Sparrow Hospital.
They were on it.
No one wants to live through
a mass shooting like this,
but they were prepared and they
handled it with grace and humanity.
As the representative of Oxford,
MI,
I cannot believe that I am here
again doing this 15 months later.
And I am filled with rage that
we have to have another press
conference to talk about our children
being killed in their schools.
And I would say that you either care
about protecting kids or you don't.
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.
Now the Spartan community is
incredibly connected and proud.
We've already seen people come together.
But 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.
And we have children in Michigan who
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.
In the mean time,
I feel confident that our law
enforcement is doing everything that
they can to understand the situation.
I'm thrilled that federal law
enforcement is on scene bringing
their resources to the fight.
We're not going to rest until we understand,
but I think the fact that we're having
this conference so quickly after
another mass shooting in our state
should be a statement in and of itself.
Thanks very much.
It's OK.
Well, on behalf of the the
Community, I'm Mayor Eddie Shore.
Mayor Ron Bacon, East Lansing
City of Lansing this is the this is
the morning that nobody ever wants to
have this is the day that nobody ever
wants to be standing up at a lectern.
When you get elected you want to talk
about the great things in your community
and not this but here we are I I do want
to thank the the Lansing residents who
who stood up these many many tips you've
heard about came in from from many of
our residents and as a result the the
shooter was identified and and the threat.
Is neutralized.
So we are very proud of
our citizens in Lansing.
There's going to be so much fear.
It's not just the students,
it's the community.
I've heard from parents and citizens
who didn't know what was going on,
so I want to share.
We have a community mental health
resource that is open 24/7.
It's a crisis services department,
517-346-8200. And I also want to
share in in the incredible job that
was done by our law enforcement.
LPD, ELPD, state police,
Ingham County and of course MSU.
This is what they trained for and
today and yesterday they were able
to show that that they are prepared.
It's not something you ever
want to do when you train,
but they were prepared and
and they were excellent.
As of today, East Lansing Hannah Center will
be available to students in need of resources
and counseling will be available all day.
We'll be working with the Department of
Health Services today as well to extend
other additional things to the Community.
I just want to say as mayor of East Lansing,
I when I introduce myself,
I'm the mayor of East Lansing,
home of Michigan State University.
We are indivisible.
This Spartan will thing is real.
I want to send out my deepest regrets and
remorse to the families that lost children.
The fear stricken in the
children at Michigan State.
For my children,
I'm a dad here in this
community is like a playground.
For them,
it's where you go and have your first
experiences and taste of college life
and fun and all those types of things.
And I'm, I'm just shattered today.
My heart aches for our community and it
will be present will be here in support.
President Woodruff of the entire
community of Michigan State
University will stand hand in hand.
And this is just the beginning.
We will find a way forward.
I don't want to stand up here and
and try to communicate that we
have the answers at this point,
but as a Congressperson slot.
And we're going to find the answers, and
we're going to figure some stuff out here.
This has gone far enough.
Thank you.