MSU Shooting Debrief

March 14, 2023


On February 13th, 2023 a tragedy occurred at Michigan State University. Yet again, a violent attack occurred by a suspect with currently unclear motives. My intent is not to highlight the evil and malicious actions or the individual who carried them out. However, any time an event like this occurs, there are learning opportunities. My goal is to bring out some learning points from this tragic incident that we can use to prepare, and ideally prevent, a similar situation where we may happen to be. 


I’ll start off by saying that I never wish to come across at criticizing those involved and their actions or inactions. The men and women that were victims of this attack did not plan on being victims that day, and likely didn’t think about such an attack being a possibility until they were thrust into the event by the actions of the suspect. 


My next point is that I have no desire to make political statements regarding this incident. I address this blog post to those men and women who have a desire to be ready to stand in the gap should they be placed in a similar incident. 


All of that being said, here is a general summary of what occurred:


On the evening of February 13th, 2023, around 8:18 PM, the suspect (a male in his 40s with no known connection to the university) entered Berkley Hall classroom room 114 from the rear of the classroom and began firing a handgun, hitting several students and fatally wounding two. After firing an unknown amount of shots, the suspect left and continued shooting around and inside the nearby student union building, where another student was shot and killed and several others were injured. The suspect was later located and confronted off campus, where he died of a self-inflicted gunshot. 


There are 3 primary points I would like to draw from this tragic incident in order to help you be more prepared should you find yourself in a similar incident



Takeaways 


In short, don’t have a mindset of “if” you are ever placed in a situation like this. Prepare with a mindset of “when”. This is not based out of a mindset of fear, but of love. I know that the best way I can be prepared to defend those I love is not to just hope that they are never attacked, but to have a mindset of “when this happens, this is how I will respond.”


Look for training that can prepare you for violent attacks such is this, particularly scenario based training. There’s nothing better to prepare you to respond to an active shooting than simulated active shooter training. 


As most of the people that I train and speak to are believers in Christ, my encouragement is not to have a mindset of fear, but of faith. 


Have any thoughts or questions on this incident? I’d love to hear your feedback at isaac@htlwarrior.com. 


Until then, I encourage you…


Be a warrior…

Stand in the breach…

Hold the line…


Be blessed, 


Isaac 



Sources:


https://www.bridgemi.com/talent-education/michigan-state-professor-details-terror-mass-shooting-room-114


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Michigan_State_University_shooting#cite_note-House-2023-9