An 18-year-old Michigan State University student, identified as Hope Duncan of Eastpointe, has been charged with issuing a threat of terrorism after allegedly posting a message on social media regarding a potential school shooting at Michigan State University, WOOD TV8 reported.
The charges faced by Duncan include a false report of threat of terrorism and using a computer to commit an crime. According to Audacy, these allegations carry a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Duncan was swiftly apprehended by the MSU Police and Public Safety officials approximately an hour after the threat was made public, which occurred around 2 p.m. on February 26.
Ingham County Prosecutor John Dewane has confirmed the charges, and Duncan was arraigned this past Friday, as noted by the Lansing State Journal. The court records reveal that her bond was set at $20,000, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. on March 20 at the 54B District Court.
The specific nature of the threat was not disclosed, but it was reported by Audacy that Duncan allegedly wrote on an Michigan State University Class of '28 Snapchat story that there would be "another school shooting." The MSU police department, upon being notified of the threat, was able to locate and detain Duncan for questioning at an address on the 800 block of Chestnut Road in East Lansing.
The incident has sparked concern in the Michigan State University community, still reeling from the tragic February 13, 2023 shooting that claimed the lives of three students and left five others injured. Duncan's bond has not yet been posted, and the MSU community awaits further developments regarding the case.
