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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Suspect described as ‘black male wearing red shoes’
The MSU police officials described the suspect as a “Black male, shorter in stature” and wearing red shoes.
Community members were directed to remain sheltered in place, with police adding that the suspect is still on the loose. The officials are expected to release the surveillance footage of the suspect shortly.
Breaking: Three people dead in MSU shooting
“There are three confirmed fatalities,” in the shooting at Michigan State University said police. “This is in addition to the five victims who have been transported to the hospital.”
Police releases image of the suspect
“The suspect is a Black male, shorter in stature, red shoes, jean jacket, wearing a baseball cap that is navy with a lighter brim,” said MSU police on Twitter as they shared the surveillance footage showing the suspected gunman.
Police confirm shootings at two places on campus
Authorities ordered students and staff to shelter in place after a report of shots fired shortly after 8.30pm around Berkey Hall, an academic building, at the East Lansing campus.
Separately, police wrote on Twitter that there had been another reported shooting at IM East, a recreational centre for students.
Chris Rozman, interim deputy chief of the campus police department, did not mention IM East during the news briefing a short while ago, however, instead identifying the second shooting location as the Michigan State University Union building.
‘They’ve been hiding, all the lights off in a dark room’
WDIV-TV meteorologist Kim Adams, whose daughter attends Michigan State, told viewers that students were worn down by the hourslong saga.
“They’ve been hiding, all the lights off in a dark room,” Adams said.
“Their cellphones are starting to lose battery charge. They don’t all have chargers with them and losing contact with the outside world is terrifying on a normal day for college kids, let alone when there’s someone out there that they haven’t caught yet.”
Student living off campus fears for life as shooter remains on loose
Aedan Kelley, a junior who lives a half-mile (less than a kilometer) east of campus, said he locked his doors and covered his windows “just in case.”
Sirens were constant, he said, and a helicopter hovered overhead.
“It’s all very frightening,” Kelley said. “And then I have all these people texting me wondering if I’m OK, which is overwhelming.”
Police releases surveillance image of suspected shooter
Breaking: Suspected shooter dead
The suspect in the fatal Michigan State University shootings has died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, campus police said during a midnight press briefing.
Campus to remain shut for next 48 hours
Michigan State University campus will remain closed for next 48 hours, said campus police. The shutdown may be extended, added Chris Rozman, interim deputy chief of the campus police department.
Police seek support of students for investigation
The MSU police have appealed to students to come forward and help investigators with their eyewitness accounts.
“We encourage students to come forward and help sequence the events together,” said Chris Rozman, interim deputy chief of the campus police department.