EAST LANSING, Mich. — Three Michigan State University students died, and five others were injured, after a gunman opened fire on campus Monday night.
According to police, the suspect was identified after he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Police said the man had no affiliation with the university, where he killed three students: sophomore Brian Fraser and Alexandria Verner and Arielle Anderson, both juniors.
Five students remain hospitalized in critical condition.
“I was like shaking in the bathroom, and it was just terrible,” MSU student Ellie Dezonna said. “Just like preparing myself for the worst thing ever.”
The first shots were reported Monday just before 8:30 p.m., inside Berkey Hall, which is an academic building on the northern part of campus bordering downtown East Lansing.
“Right when that first gunshot went off, I booked it to the far corner of the class,” said Dominik Molotky. “I was sitting right next to the door, where he came in, literally one of the first two seats he came in. And thank God my fight-or-flight response kicked in because I booked it to the other side of the class and ducked down, and he came in and shot three to four times in our classroom.”
While police were on the scene, helping victims at Berkey Hall, more reports rolled in about shots fired at the student union.
A manhunt ensued, and those in the area were asked to shelter in place while police searched for the shooter, now identified as Anthony McRae, 43.
Police announced at approximately 1 a.m. that the shooter was no longer a threat, saying he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Surveillance video images were quickly released, and resulting tips from the public helped locate the shooter in Lansing.
“It was shortly after we released it that he was recognized by an alert citizen,” said Chris Rozman, MSU police and public safety interim deputy chief. “So the time frame was pretty quick after we released it. So we commend the community and the citizen that called that in. And that was exactly what we were trying to achieve by releasing that picture — was to generate immediate tips for this person that was mobile that we had no idea where he was at that point.”
Hundreds of law enforcement officers across the state responded to the situation.
According to data from the nonprofit group Gun Violence Archive, it marked the 67th mass shooting this year. This attack also came one day before the five-year anniversary of the Parkland school shooting in Florida.
State and local leaders expressed outrage that tragedies such as this continue to plague American communities.
“As parents, we tell our kids it’s gonna be okay,” Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said. “We say that all the time. But the truth is, words are not good enough. We must act, and we will. But today, let’s hold the MSU and East Lansing communities close. And let’s think of the families and friends of those who have lost those fighting for their lives, and the countless Michiganders who lives are forever changed by yesterday’s shooting. We will get through this together.”
The shooter was previously on probation for a gun-related crime in 2019. According to a spokesperson with the Michigan Department of Corrections, he pleaded guilty to weapons – firearms – possession of a loaded firearm.
He also had ties to Ewing, New Jersey. According to Ewing police, Michigan police found a note in his pocket containing a threat to Ewing Public Schools. That district’s schools were closed Tuesday as a precaution.
The shooter’s motive is currently unknown.
The university cancelled classes for the remainder of the week, and are set to resume Monday. The university is also offering counseling services and crisis resources to students, faculty, staff and MSU family members.
This is a devloping story.
