MSU police investigating assault at campus library

Michigan State University police are investigating a campus library assault that may have been motivated by the victims' sexual orientation.

Five suspects allegedly assaulted two people at the library on 366 W. Circle Drive in East Lansing on Monday evening, according to an MSU police alert.

Officers responded to the library at about 5:50 p.m. following an aggravated assault report and are now investigating the incident as a possible hate crime.

Police said a group of five suspects assaulted two victims, intentionally selecting the victims because of the perpetrators' "sexual orientation bias."

A spokesperson for the campus police could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday.

"Crimes are never the fault of a victim," campus police said in the alert. "MSU prohibits discrimination and harassment. Anyone who believes they have been discriminated against or harassed is encouraged to report the incident(s) to the Office of Institutional Equity."

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Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed into law legislation to add sexual orientation and gender identity protections to the state's Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act in 2023. As written, the law prevents against discrimination related to employment, housing and public accommodations.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact MSU police at (517) 355-2221.