Update 8:00 pm: Search for the suspect ongoing
The search for the suspect in this morning's campus shooting is ongoing. Officers from multiple police agencies will continue their efforts on campus and in the community through the night.
Police remind anyone who sees anything suspicious to call 911.
We will continue to post updates as more information becomes available.
Update 6:00 pm: Campus events and activities are cancelled until further notice
The Central Michigan University Police Department has identified the victims in this morning's campus shooting as James Eric Davis, Sr., and Diva Jeneen Davis. The victims are the father and mother of the suspect, who remains at large.
Multiple police agencies - more than 100 officers - continue to search for the suspect.
All planned campus events and activities are cancelled until further notice. Classes at the Mount Pleasant campus scheduled for Saturday, March 3, are cancelled.
The Western Michigan at Central Michigan men's basketball game scheduled for this evening has been postponed, CMU Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics Michael Alford said.
The game will be rescheduled and details will be announced once they are confirmed.
Update 2:56 pm: Officers assisting individuals in leaving buildings
The suspect in this morning's campus shooting is still at large. CMU police continue to work closely with local and state police agencies.
Uniformed officers are beginning to assist individuals in leaving campus buildings. Officers will be going building to building. Please wait for officers before leaving buildings.
Students in residence halls may stay in the halls or can leave with assistance from uniformed officers. Residential students will be allowed into halls with their CMU ID. Campbell Hall is open with the exception of the fourth floor.
Update 10:43 am: Shots fired
Central Michigan University police confirm two individuals were fatally shot at Campbell Hall on campus this morning. The deceased are not students and police believe the situation started from a domestic situation.
There are no additional injuries.
Campus is on lockdown as the suspect is still at large.
The person of interest is James Eric Davis, Jr. He is a black male, approximately 19 years of age, 5’10” and 135 lbs.
Those planning to come to campus today to pick up students for spring break should stay off campus until further notice. Please go to the Comfort Inn, 2424 S. Mission St. University staff will be on site to support the families.
CMU police are working closely with local and state police.
Continue to monitor this page and CMU's social media channels for updates.
Media Contact
Heather Smith
hutch1hl@cmich.edu
(CNN) Police are looking for the son of a husband and wife who were fatally shot Friday at a residence hall at Central Michigan University, campus officials said.
James Eric Davis Jr., 19, was identified as a suspect in what authorities said was a family-related domestic dispute. It was the nation's 12th school shooting this year
The university, in Mount Pleasant, identified the victims as James Eric Davis Sr., 48, and Diva Jeenen Davis, 47, the suspect's parents.
A relative told CNN: "The family is in shock and trying to piece everything together."
The suspect is at large and considered armed and dangerous, according to police. He was wearing mustard yellow jeans and a blue hoodie when last seen.
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MT. PLEASANT, Mich. (WXYZ) - 6:50 p.m.
Officials in Bellwood, Illinois have spoken out about the death of James Eric Davis, Sr., who worked as a part-time officer in their police department.
6:00 p.m.
Central Michigan Police have officially identified the victims of Friday's shooting as 47-year-old Eric Davis, Sr., and 47-year-old Diva Jeneen Davis, the parents of the suspect.
Officers also say 100 members of law enforcement after continuing the search for Davis.
Central Michigan has canceled all event and activities until further notice. This includes tonight's Western Michigan, Central Michigan basketball game.
Class scheduled for Saturday, March 3 are also canceled.
4:45 p.m.
The mother of James Eric Davis's roommate is speaking out about what her son experience during the Central Michigan University campus shooting.
Debra Williams tells 7 Action News she immediately drove from her house to the campus when she heard about the shooting.
Her son sent her a text around 9 this morning saying— he thinks his roommate just killed his mom.
"He was in his dorm room sleeping. He said another one of the roommates ran into his bedroom and locked the door," Williams says. "he said he heard 5 shots. He said that he called the police. I told him to stay in his dorm. When police did come and finally get them out, He said the father was across his bedroom door. I guess he had to step over him - Oh God!"
Williams says she spoke to her son on FaceTime just last night. Some of his roommates were in the dorm.
"Everything was fine last night. Everything was fine last night," she says. "Then at 9 this morning I got that text message."
4:00 p.m.
At a news conference, police say James Eric Davis, Jr. has still not been located.
They are encouraging anyone who sees Davis to not approach him and, instead, call 911 immediately.
Police now say Davis was treated at a University of Michigan Health facility and not McLaren hospital.
Speaking during the news conference, school officials stressed that their number one priority is the safety of the CMU community.
Michigan Governor Rick Snyder was in attendance at the news conference.
3:40 p.m.
Central Michigan University has begun to lift the lockdown that has been in place since this morning's shootings.
According to a post on the CMU website, uniformed officers have begun to assist people in living campus buildings. Officers will be going building to building.
Anyone on campus is asked to wait in their current building for officers before leaving.
Students in the residence halls are being told they can stay in their buildings. However, they are also asked to wait for assistance from uniformed officers if they would like to leave. Anyone looking to enter a residence hall must present their CMU ID to be allowed inside.
Campbell Hall, where the shooting occurred, has also been reopened. However, the fourth floor remains off limits due to the investigation.
1:50 p.m.
Police have confirmed the identity of the two victims as Davis' parents.
His father, James Eric Davis, Sr., was a part-time police officer at the Bellwood Police Department in Illinois.
12:22 p.m.
The City of Mt. Pleasant has released a photo of the suspect in the fatal shooting at CMU.
The person of interest is James Eric Davis, Jr. He is a black male, approximately 19 years of age, 5'10" & 135 lbs. He was last see wearing mustard yellow jeans and a blue hoodie. The suspect is considered armed and dangerous. Do not approach the suspect. Call 911 immediately. pic.twitter.com/dCChxe1Tfr — City of Mt. Pleasant (@MtPleasantMI) March 2, 2018
12:07 p.m.
Central Michigan University police say the campus is still actively locked down. Currently, police agencies are still trying to locate the individual.
Police say it is unknown what clothing the suspect is wearing now, as they have located a number of articles of clothing along a railroad.
Mt. Pleasant police say they believe James Eric Davis, Jr. is in city limits. Police are asking residents to stay inside at this time. If residents see the individual, please call 911.
Police say they had contact with the suspect Thursday evening, and he was transported to the hospital for a drug related incident. He was then released to hospital staff.
10:56 a.m.
The person of interest has been identified as James Eric Davis, Jr. Central Michigan University says those planning to come to campus to pick up students for spring break should stay off campus until further notice.
10:53 a.m.
Central Michigan University police say the two people fatally shot were not students at the university. Police say the shooting appears to be a domestic incident.
10:28 a.m.
Police confirm the two people shot have died.
10:24 a.m.
Police describe the suspect as a 19-year-old black male, approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall, wearing mustard yellow jeans and a blue hoodie. He is considered to be armed and dangerous.
UPDATE 10:23 a.m.: The suspect is a 19-year-old black male who is approx. 5 foot 9 inches tall. He is wearing mustard yellow jeans and a blue hoodie. He may have taken off the blue hoodie. He is considered armed & dangerous. If you see the suspect, do not approach him. Call 911. — City of Mt. Pleasant (@MtPleasantMI) March 2, 2018
10:05 a.m.
Students on campus are instructed to take shelter, said Lt. Cameron Wassman of the Central Michigan Police Department.
9:45 a.m.
Michigan State Police say two people have been shot. Their conditions are not known at this time.
9:41 a.m.
The city of Mt. Pleasant tweeted that the suspect is considered to be armed and dangerous.
9:28 a.m.
CMU Police are searching for one suspect who fled on foot.
There has been a report of shots fired at Campbell Hall on campus. Suspect is still at large, police advise all to take shelter. If you see something suspicious, call 911. — Central Michigan U. (@CMUniversity) March 2, 2018
9:21 a.m.
Police are responding to reports of shots fired at Central Michigan University.
CMU sent an automated phone call to all students and faculty with a message saying police are responding to shots fired on the fourth floor of Campbell Hall.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- Two people who weren't students were fatally shot at a Central Michigan University residence hall on Friday, prompting officials to put the campus on lockdown as police searched for a 19-year-old suspect described as armed and dangerous, officials said. Campus police believe the shooting "started from a domestic situation," the university said in a statement.
Central Michigan University police Lt. Larry Klaus identified the suspect as James Eric Davis Jr., a black man who was 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighed 135 pounds. Klaus said Davis was last seen wearing a dark hoodie but it wasn't known whether he changed his clothes because several items of clothing were found in the area.
The university identified the two dead as James Davis Sr. and Diva Davis. Records show they're from Plainfield, Illinois. Central Michigan University police said James Eric Davis, Jr. fatally shot his parents who had arrived at the dorm to pick him up from school, adding that the killings stemmed from a "domestic situation," CBS Detroit reports. Davis' father, James Davis, Sr., was a part-time police officer at the Bellwood Police Department in Illinois, according to reports.
The shooting happened on a day when parents were arriving to pick up students for the beginning of a week-long spring break.
The person of interest is James Eric Davis, Jr. He is a black male, approximately 19 years of age, 5'10" & 135 lbs. He was last see wearing mustard yellow jeans and a blue hoodie. The suspect is considered armed and dangerous. Do not approach the suspect. Call 911 immediately. pic.twitter.com/dCChxe1Tfr — City of Mt. Pleasant (@MtPleasantMI) March 2, 2018
No other injuries were immediately reported. The university, which has about 23,000 students, urged students to take shelter.
"At this point, our campus is safe," Klaus said at a midday press conference.
On Thursday night, Klaus said Davis suffered what officers believed was a drug overdose or a bad reaction to drugs and he was taken to a hospital.
CMU police confirm two individuals were fatally shot at Campbell Hall on campus this morning. The deceased are not students and police believe the situation started from a domestic situation. There are no additional injuries; suspect is still at large: https://t.co/AxvPn3N0s0 — Central Michigan U. (@CMUniversity) March 2, 2018
Around 9:30 a.m. Friday, the school posted an alert on social media about shots being fired at Campbell Hall, a dorm on the campus in Mount Pleasant, which is about 70 miles north of Lansing. An automated phone message from the school also was sent to students.
The shooting occurred on the last day of classes before spring break. Parents who were trying to pick up students were told to stay off campus and go to a local hotel where staff would assist them.
Halie Byron, 20, said she locked herself in her off-campus house, about a 10-minute walk from Campbell Hall. She had planned to run errands before traveling home to the Detroit area.
"It's scary thinking about how easy a shooter can come into a college campus anywhere -- a classroom, a library. There's so much easy access," Byron said.
In the surrounding community, students and staff in the Mount Pleasant school district were told not to leave nine buildings. Visitors also weren't being allowed to enter.
