Michigan State shooting – updates: Murdered victims named as chilling details around Anthony McRae revealed
Police say suspect was in contact with law enforcement before dying by suicide as victims Brian Fraser and Alexandria Verner are named
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The 43-year-old man accused of killing three and wounding five in a shooting at Michigan State University before turning the gun on himself was found with a note detailing threats to two other schools, authorities say.
Police identified the gunman in Monday’s shooting as Anthony McRae. He is not believed to have any connection to MSU.
On Tuesday morning, reports claimed that a note was found with McRae’s body after he killed himself. The note allegedly indicated threats to two New Jersey schools.
Meanwhile, it emerged that McRae had been living with his father, had firearms convictions and was known for firing weapons on the property, according to neighbours.
The names of two of the three students who were killed have been released.
Brian Fraser was a sophomore at the school from Grosse Pointe, east of Detroit, and Alexandra Verner was a junior from Clawson, north of the city.
The name of the third victim will not be shared at the request of the family.
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Welcome to The Independent’s liveblog for Tuesday, 14 February 2023, where we provide the latest on shooting at the Michigan State University.
One dead and 'multiple' injuries after Michigan State University shooting
Gunfire erupted at Michigan State University on Monday, leaving at least one person dead and multiple reported injuries, as police swarmed the main campus in East Lansing searching for a lone suspect, according to authorities and local news media.
Few official details about the gun violence were immediately available, but university police said on Twitter that shots were fired in two locations - near an academic building called Berkey Hall and an athletic facility known as IM East.
The Detroit News reported one confirmed fatality on campus, inside Berkey Hall, citing Michigan State University (MSU) spokesperson Emily Guerrant, but Reuters could not independently verify that information.
Unspecified number of victims moved to hospital
“There are multiple reported injuries,” Michigan State University said on its official police and public safety Twitter feed. It later said an unspecified number of victims were being transported to a nearby hospital.
Several campus buildings had been cleared and secured nearly two hours after the gunfire was first reported on campus, MSU police said.
Single suspect described as 'a short male wearing a mask'
Police in East Lansing tweeted that a single suspect, initially described as a short male wearing a mask, was at large and believed to be on foot.
Students, faculty and residents in surrounding off-campus neighborhoods were urged by authorities to “shelter in place,” while police searched for the suspect.
MSU is a major public institution of higher education whose flagship East Lansing campus accounts for 50,000 graduate and undergraduate students.
Michigan governor issues statement about shooting
Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer has been briefed by the authorities about the shooting at Michigan State University, she said in a tweet.
“The Michigan State Police along with @msupolice, local law enforcement and first responders are on the ground,” she said.
“Let’s wrap our arms around the Spartan community tonight.”
Victims transported to Sparrow Hospital
Victims are currently being transported to Sparrow Hospital, said MSU Police and Public Safety on Twitter.
“Brody Hall, Snyder/Phillips Hall, Mason Hall, Abbot Hall, Landon Hall, the MSU Union, and Berkey Hall have all been cleared/secured.”
Police briefing at 11pm ET
Michigan State Univeristy Police and Public Safety is expected to hold a press briefing at 11pm at the Henry Centre for Executive Development.
Campus activities cancelled for two days
All campus activities at Michigan State University are cancelled for the next 48 hours, said MSU police and Public Safety on Twitter as it urged students and staff to “not come to campus tomorrow”.
14 months since last major shooting in Michigan
Monday night’s violence at Michigan State University came roughly 14 months after a deadly mass shooting on 30 November 2021, at Oxford High School in Oakland County, Michigan, about 80 miles east of East Lansing, in which a 15-year-old student opened fire with a semi-automatic pistol.
Four classmates were killed and six other students and a teacher were wounded in that attack, the deadliest US school shooting that year.
Authorities said the teenage suspect, who has pleaded not guilty to murder charges, used a gun his parents bought him as a Christmas present despite signs that he was emotionally disturbed. Both parents were charged with involuntary manslaughter in the case.
Five injured, some with life-threatening injuries
MSU police confirmed that five people have been injured in the shooting on campus adding that some victims have “life-threatening injuries”.
“There were five victims. All victims transported to hospital. Some victims do have life-threatening injuries,” said MSU police during the press briefing.