A $13 million settlement has been approved in response to a lawsuit over a terrifying unannounced active shooter drill at a Michigan psychiatric hospital for children. The incident, which occurred on December 21, 2022, caused panic among the children and staff at the state-run Hawthorn Center near Detroit.
During the drill, an announcement was made over the hospital’s speaker system, warning of two armed men inside the building and shots being fired. The message, though false, led to chaos, with people hiding under desks, barricading doors, and calling 911 in fear for their lives. Both children and staff were left traumatized by the event.
Fifty children at the hospital will each receive about $60,000, while 90 staff members will receive an average of more than $50,000, based on their trauma assessment scores. Additionally, two dozen others will receive smaller compensation amounts.
The unannounced drill had not been communicated to local authorities, resulting in a large police response, with officers arriving in full gear and armed, preparing for what they believed was a real emergency. Two individuals who had been instructed to pose as shooters were apprehended during the drill, though they were unarmed.
The state has acknowledged the harm caused by the incident, and the settlement reflects their recognition of the severity of the situation. The drill was organized by the hospital's safety director, who remains employed by the state. The Hawthorn Center has since closed, though not due to this event.
