MSU, U-M, Ford threat unless $100 billion ransom is paid 'not credible'

EAST LANSING — Michigan State University's Department of Police and Public Safety said on Friday that it had identified a "probable" suspect who sent a "vague and nonspecific threat" via email to numerous people across Michigan, including officials at MSU, on Wednesday night.

"(DPPS) has confirmed the email threat is not credible and originated from out of state," MSU police spokesperson Dana Whyte said via text. "There is no credible threat to our community.

"We believe the suspect in our case is located in the southern United States," Whyte said. "Our case has been submitted to the Ingham County Prosecutor's Office for review of charges."

The threat demanded $100 billion from the sender's "hostages" — Ford Motor Company, Michigan State University and the University of Michigan Ann Arbor. The email was sent about 9:25 p.m. to 29 people with Ford, MSU and Lansing State Journal email addresses. None of the recipients appeared to have U-M email addresses.

"You will pay the sum of $100 Billion Dollars by 5/23/2024 in ransom, or face another hired assassin for exponential losses and mass casualties that pales in comparison to February 14, 2023," the email said. It was signed "A Next Gen Assassin."

The Feb. 14, 2023, date appears to be a reference to the fatal shooting on MSU's campus on Feb. 13, 2023, in which a gunman murdered three students and wounded five others before later killing himself when confronted by police.

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The email included a visible address for the sender, but it's unclear whether it was a valid address or belonged to the person sending the email.

Howell Public Schools closed for a day earlier this week when administrators received a threat. However, Whyte said they are unaware of any connection.

"To our knowledge, the threat we received is not related to any other threats that other institutions or school districts have received," she said.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: MSU police say 'mass casualties' threat with $100B ransom wasn't credible