On the morning of April 20, 2020, Michigan State University police responded to a report of shots fired on campus. When they arrived, they found the suspect, a 19-year-old student, in possession of a handgun. He was arrested and charged with carrying a concealed weapon, a felony with a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
However, the case was dropped by the Ingham County Prosecutor, Carol Siemon, a member of the Democratic Party and a self-described progressive. Siemon said that the suspect had no prior criminal record, and that he was not a threat to public safety. She also noted that the suspect had a valid permit to carry a concealed weapon, and that the gun was not used in a threatening manner.
Siemon’s decision to drop the charge was met with both praise and criticism. Supporters of the decision argued that the suspect did not pose a threat to public safety and that he should not be punished for a minor mistake. Critics argued that the suspect should still face consequences for his actions, and that the decision to drop the charge sends a message that gun laws can be broken without consequences.
In the end, Siemon’s decision to drop the charge was a controversial one. While some applauded her for taking a progressive stance on the issue, others felt that the decision sent a message that gun laws can be broken without consequence. Regardless of the outcome, it is clear that the case sparked a debate on the issue of gun control and the role of prosecutors in enforcing the law.