Michigan State Closes Berkey Hall After Threat, Man Held in Washtenaw County

EAST LANSING — Michigan State University closed Berkey Hall and pushed classes to remote instruction on Sept. 3 after police connected a threat against the building to a man who was taken into protective custody in Washtenaw County.

The MSU Department of Police and Public Safety said the threat referenced information about a program housed inside Berkey Hall. Officers learned of it late on Sept. 2 from a medical professional who was fulfilling a "Duty to Warn" obligation, a legal requirement that allows health providers to alert authorities when a patient poses a danger to others. Police did not name the man taken into custody but said he is not a student or employee at MSU.

The university sent a text alert to students and staff early Thursday morning saying there was no broader threat to campus but that Berkey Hall would remain closed until further notice. "Out of an abundance of caution, Michigan State University has temporarily closed Berkey Hall for Thursday, September 3 and moved classes to remote online instruction while law enforcement assesses a reported potential threat," the alert read. A follow-up message said the university was working with law enforcement and would provide updates as they became available.

MSU police were assisted by the Eastern Michigan University Police Department, the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office and Michigan State Police as they investigated. Berkey Hall reopened for normal operations at 7 a.m. on Sept. 4.

Staff running MSU's Student Life social media accounts posted a message acknowledging the anxiety the closure caused on a campus still marked by the 2023 mass shooting. "Spartans, many of you may have concerns, anxiety or confusion around the Berkey Hall closure," the statement read. "We want to acknowledge how concerning alerts and actions like this can be, particularly for those who have been through similar events previously and those who are on campus for the first time."

Berkey Hall was where a gunman killed three MSU students in February 2023 before he was found dead by his own hand hours later off campus. The building was closed for a period after the shooting and reopened in August 2024 following renovations. Thursday's closure marked the first time since then that the building was shut down over a safety concern.

This is at least the second time this year MSU has closed a building over a threat-related incident. In April, the university closed Wells Hall after unknown chemicals were discovered inside. It took several days before officials disclosed that materials for a methamphetamine lab had been found there. A man, Xin Tong, was later charged with malicious destruction of a building and operating a lab involving methamphetamine. He was arraigned and, in August, found incompetent to stand trial. His next court date is set for Nov. 13.

MSU has not released additional details about the man held in Washtenaw County or said whether he faces charges. The university's police department said it would continue to share information as the investigation develops, and Berkey Hall is now operating on its normal schedule.