ORIGINAL POST: 10 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 1
Ferris DPS and Big Rapids DPS are investigating a shooting that occurred at Venlo Place Apartments in the early hours of Saturday morning.
A male, who police believe is a Ferris student, has been hospitalized after being shot at 4:15 a.m. on Feb. 1.
The shooting suspect is described as a tall, black male with dreadlocks. Police have contained an area on campus near Finch Court where the shooter is thought to be located. No word on whether the suspect has been apprehended.
UPDATE: 11:17 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 1
Due to an off-campus shooting involving students, all activities scheduled on the Ferris campus have been canceled or suspended today, Saturday, Feb. 1.
UPDATE: 11:59 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 1
The suspect involved in the Venlo shooting has not been apprehended.
Officials at an 11:15 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 1 press conference reported the vehicle the suspect is believed to be in has been located less than a mile from where the shooting occurred. Big Rapids DPS and the Mecosta County Sheriff’s Department are on the scene.
The victim was taken to Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids and is being treated for gunshot wounds to the arm and abdomen.
UPDATE: 2:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 1
The suspect involved in an early morning shooting near Ferris State University is still at large.
Police are going door-to-door in Finch Court in a search focused on Finch Court for the suspect, and the area is on lockdown. The suspect is believed to be armed and not known to be a Ferris student.
The vehicle police believe the vehicle used to leave the crime scene was found parked in Finch Court. It may have been stolen. Officers are attempting to locate the owner.
UPDATE: 4:35 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1
The lockdown on Finch Court has been lifted, according to residents. Police continue to look for the shooter and have expanded the search. Some campus activities have resumed.
UPDATE: 10:45 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1
Nearly 18 hours have passed since a Ferris student was shot at Venlo Place Apartments, and the suspect continues to elude police.
Ferris Director of DPS Bruce Borkovich said the suspect is still believed to be in a Finch Court apartment, which is on-campus housing at Ferris State University. The immediate area surrounding the apartment has been evacuated. On-campus residents are advised to stay indoors.
UPDATE: 11 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1
Ferris State University students may go to sleep tonight with the Venlo shooting suspect still at large on their campus.
The Michigan State Police emergency team is now implementing peaceful tactics to remove the suspect from the Finch Court residence.
The Ferris student who was shot has been treated and released from the hospital.
Two women have exited the Finch Court apartment where the suspect is believed to be. One woman is a former Ferris student and the other is a current Ferris student.
UPDATE: 12:45 a.m., Sunday, Feb. 2
Shortly before midnight, police apprehended the suspect believed to have shot a Ferris student at Venlo Place Apartments in the early morning hours of Saturday, Feb. 1.
UPDATE: 9:45 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 2
The Venlo shooting suspect has been identified by police as 20-year-old DeCory Demarco Downing of the Mt. Clemens/Macomb area. Downing has been charged with attempted murder and unlawful use of a firearm. If convicted, he could face life in prison.