One day after a gunman opened fire at Oregon’s Umpqua Community College, killing 10 people and injuring seven others, SVSU police officers were on heightened alert after rumors on various social media platforms threatened gang violence Friday, Oct. 2.
A Facebook status posted by a user named Destiny Gilbert claimed “a gang from the EAST SIDE (of Saginaw) is doing an initiation at Saginaw Valley (this weekend) … they are to start randomly shooting into the crowds … this has been confirmed by a police officer that I talked with this morning.”
President Donald Bachand sent the following email to students and staff Friday afternoon:
“Campus Community:SVSU is aware of social media activity regarding possible disturbances on or around the campus this weekend. Campus safety is our No. 1 priority at SVSU. We have added extra patrols and our officers will be on heightened alert to ensure everyone’s safety. If you are aware of any suspicious activity, please call the campus police department at 989-964-4141.”
A representative of the University Police and Parking Services office said Friday that the department had not confirmed the validity of any threats made.
Students took to Facebook — specifically the group SVSU I’M BOSS — and Yik Yak, an anonymous mobile application, to discuss the rumor.
“Kinda wanna go out this weekend, kinda scared I’m gonna get shot,” one user posted. “I just wish someone would tell me what is really supposed to be going on in (Campus Village) this weekend. So many different versions … Rumor.. Real… Stay… Leave,” a different user added.
Another post read, “I’m irritated that you people aren’t taking this gang (expletive) seriously. It might not be true. Okay sure. But tell those people in Oregon that ‘this (expletive) doesn’t happen.’ Always better safe than sorry.”
Police emergency response plans define an active shooter as “a person … who appear(s) to be actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in populated areas on campus.”
Because active shooter situations are dynamic and evolve rapidly, response to them is largely dictated by the specific circumstances of the encounter.
In general, persons involved in such a situation should remain calm and call 9-911 from a campus phone or 911 from a cell phone or off-campus phone. They should give their name and location and state that there is an active shooter on campus, in addition to providing descriptions and locations of the shooter, victims, suspicious devices and any explosions.
The emergency response plan advises those aware of an active shooter inside a building to then proceed to a room that can be locked or barricaded, turn off the lights and devices that emit sound, close the blinds, block the windows and keep out of sight while taking adequate cover.
“Attempt to rescue hostages only if rescue can be accomplished without further endangering the persons inside a secured area,” the plan reads. “Depending on the circumstances, consideration may also be given to exit through a ground-floor window.”
Those aware of an active shooter outdoors should still call 9-911 or 911, but move away from the shooter or the sounds of gunshots or explosions, taking cover behind any object that could stop bullet penetration.
The plan also advises against “provoking the shooter.”
If an active shooter situation develops, the University will combine efforts with law enforcement to manage the event. The University will provide the most accurate and timely information available to students, faculty, staff and community members through emails, text messages, the University website and public address announcements.
While Saginaw was ranked as the third-most violent city among those with 50,000 or more people in the United States in 2013 by the FBI, Saginaw Police Department statistics from early 2015 show a drop in crime across six categories when comparing 2013 to 2014.
The biggest year-over-year drop was in the number of homicides.
In 2013, 27 homicides were committed, whereas in 2014, 13 were committed. This represents a 52 percent decrease.
At the time of printing, no activities related to the threats made Friday have been recorded by University police officers.
