Michigan State University shooting: 4 students remain in critical condition
LANSING, Mich. – Four students injured Monday night when a gunman opened fire at Michigan State University remained hospitalized Thursday in critical condition as authorities continue to investigate a possible motive in the shooting.
The chair of the university’s Board of Trustees, Dr. Rema Vassar, said one of the injured students was moved to stable condition on Thursday. She asked that people continue to pray for the families of those affected, particularly the families of students who were killed.
“They sent their students to Michigan State for a quality, world-class education and now they’re holding services for them,” she said. “So just hold space for them in your hearts and continue to wish the best for those who are still struggling.”
Michigan State University shooting: 3 dead, 5 injured; suspect dead
Three MSU students, 19-year-old Arielle Anderson, 20-year-old Brian Fraser and 20-year-old Alexandria Verner, died in the shootings at Berkey Hall and MSU’s Student Union building. Lansing Police Chief Ellery Sosebee said the suspected shooter, 43-year-old Anthony Dwayne McRae, shot and killed himself as he was being approached by officers off campus after the shooting.
Authorities found magazines, ammunition and two 9 mm handguns on McRae, officials said. Chris Rozman, interim deputy chief of MSU’s Department of Police and Public Safety, said the guns were bought legally, though McRae never registered them.
It remained unclear Thursday what prompted the deadly shooting. Michigan State Police Lt. Rene Gonzalez said authorities found two bus tickets on McRae along with a wallet containing a two-page note in which he threatened businesses, a church and schools in New Jersey.
“(It) also kind of gave an indication of why — maybe a motive, but nothing that we can actually confirm yet,” Gonzalez said.
Authorities declined to elaborate on Thursday, though Rozman said investigators knew about rumors that McRae had applied for a job at MSU and been turned down.
“We can find no connection to MSU at this time. He was not a current student, faculty (or) staff (member) or a former student, faculty (or) staff (member),” he said. “We are investigating it.”
He added that officials are also investigating the possible impact McRae’s mental health had on the shooting.
“It appears, based on the content of the note, that he felt he was slighted in some way by people or businesses,” Rozman said. “Did a mental health issue amplify that or was it a component of that? We’re not sure at this point.”
In the note, McRae also “claimed to be the leader of 20 killers,” Gonzalez said, though after talking to McRae’s father, investigators dismissed the allegation.
“(McRae) pretty much sat in his room most of the time,” Gonzalez said. “He pretty much never left his room, and his father didn’t believe that he had any friends, let alone 20 of them that would help him put this out.”
Sosebee said that police had a few earlier interactions with McRae, the most serious of which was a 2019 arrest for carrying a concealed weapon.
“My understanding is that in that case a motion was made by the defense … (the) prosecutor then chose to drop the charge and negotiate down to a lesser crime, which gave him no jail time, no felony charges (that) prohibited him from buying weapons in the future and a year of probation,” Sosebee said.
Authorities continue to investigate.
University offices reopened on campus Thursday after being closed after Monday’s shooting. Classes remain suspended through Sunday.
