Campus Alert Archive
Ferris State

An Officer Heard a Sound at a Party Near Finch Court and a Multi-Agency Search Found Nothing

MIweapon scareemergency notificationmedium confidence

On the night of Saturday, September 2-3, 2023, Ferris State University's Department of Public Safety responded to a large gathering at an apartment near Finch Court on campus and an officer heard a sound that could have been a weapon discharging. The university issued an emergency alert out of an abundance of caution, and five law enforcement agencies swept the area. No shell casings, weapons, or evidence of a shooting were found and the scene was cleared the same night.

Alerts
2
Response
—
Killed
0
Injured
0
Institution
Ferris State University
Public Masters · MI
Ferris Emergency Notification
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTSMS
Approximate reconstruction206 chars
Ferris Emergency Notification: Public Safety is investigating a possible weapon discharge near Finch Court and Sports Drive. Avoid the area. Stay inside. Anyone with information contact DPS at 231-591-5000.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed, not verbatim: WWMT and WZZM13 confirm officers heard a possible weapon discharge near Finch Court/Sports Drive apartments and the university alerted students as a precaution.
The responding officer had been dispatched to break up a large party gathering when they heard the sound that prompted the alert.
ALL CLEARSMS
Approximate reconstruction217 chars
Ferris Emergency Notification: UPDATE - Investigators found no evidence of a weapon being fired near Finch Court. The scene has been cleared. Resume normal activities. Contact DPS at 231-591-5000 with any information.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed all-clear; WZZM13 reported that Ferris State officials confirmed no evidence of a shooting on campus, and campus police found no shell casings or weapons.
Five law enforcement agencies participated in the sweep of the area before it was determined safe.
Context

Background

On the night of September 2-3, 2023, Ferris State University Public Safety officers responded to a large party gathering near Finch Court apartments on the Big Rapids campus. While officers were dispersing the crowd, one officer heard a sound that could have been a firearm discharging from a vehicle on or near Sports Drive. The university immediately issued an alert and five police agencies responded to sweep the area. WZZM13 reported that investigators found no shell casings, no weapons, and no evidence that any weapon was fired. The university asked anyone with information to contact the Department of Public Safety. The incident coincided with the start of the fall 2023 semester -- a period when large off-campus gatherings and noise complaints are historically elevated at residential campuses. Ferris State, a regional public comprehensive university in Big Rapids, Michigan, enrolls approximately 10,000 students across its main campus and online programs.
Outcome
Five police agencies searched the area near Finch Court and Sports Drive and found no evidence that a weapon had been discharged. No shell casings or injuries were reported. The university asked anyone with information to contact campus police.
Provenance

Sources

  1. News
    Investigation continues after possible shooting incident at Ferris State University - WWMT
    wwmt.com
  2. News
    Police find no evidence of shooting at Ferris State - WZZM13
    wzzm13.com
Tags
weapon-scarefalse-alarmparty-dispersalmichiganbig-rapidsmulti-agency-responseno-evidence
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion