Michigan State University suffered a tragedy due to a mass shooting on campus Monday night. A 43-year-old perpetrator identified as Anthony Dwayne McRae opened fire in two campus buildings – Berkey Hall and the MSU Union – where three victims were killed and five additional victims were taken to Sparrow Hospital where they currently remain in critical condition as of press time.
Before the police were able to take him into custody, McRae died from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The three deceased victims were identified by the Michigan State University Department of Police and Public Safety as Brian Fraser, a sophomore from Grosse Pointe, Michigan; Alexandria Verner, a junior from Clawson, Michigan; and Arielle Diamond Anderson, a junior from Harper Woods, Michigan.
Verner was described as a “tremendous student, athlete, leader” by Clawson Public Schools Superintendent Billy Shellenbarger, via WXYZ. He added, “If you knew her, you loved her.” She played multiple sports.
Anderson was a graduate of Grosse Pointe North High School. Her family told WXYZ that she loved children and wanted to be a pediatrician one day. The Detroit News reports that she was also fond of photography.
Fraser was a graduate of Grosse Pointe South High School. According to the Detroit News, Fraser played lacrosse and was a member of the swimming and diving team at Grosse Pointe South. He was chapter president of the Michigan Beta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta at MSU.
A senseless act of gun violence took these young lives away and left five more people fighting for theirs. The other five victims have not been identified as of yet.
As the students, staff, faculty, police, family members and the entire community now try to process what happened, the Big Ten Conference and several of its member institutions showed support for Michigan State.
The Big Ten released the following statement on Tuesday:
“The Big Ten Conference has been in consistent contact with campus leaders at Michigan State University throughout last night and this morning. The entire conference is holding the Spartan community close to our hearts as we all try to comprehend these senseless acts of violence.
“We send our deepest condolences to the families who are grieving the tragic loss of their loved ones, and we are praying for complete recovery for those who were injured and remain at Sparrow Hospital.
“As we await more information, the conference will continue to support Michigan State University and its community in every way possible in their efforts to heal.”
Several other schools embraced Michigan State following the tragic events.
University of Michigan:
Michigan will have a vigil for Michigan State on Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. The athletics department also showed its support for MSU, as did U-M President President Santa J. Ono.
Ohio State University:
Ohio State President Kristina M. Johnson released a statement:
“Ohio State joins our Big Ten community and so many others in grieving for the lives lost at Michigan State University Monday evening in a senseless act of violence. The thought of this happening so close to home and in familiar spaces is frightening and deeply disturbing.”
Johnson’s full statement can be accessed from the link in the tweet below.
Penn State University:
Penn State released a statement:
“We offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the individuals whose lives were taken in a violent attack that is still being investigated. For the individuals who were also injured in this tragic late-night incident, we wish them a full recovery as they and the entire Spartan community attempt to make sense of this senseless inhumanity.”
PSU’s full statement can be accessed from the link in the tweet below.
Rutgers University:
Rutgers President and University Professor Jonathan Holloway released a statement:
“Our hearts are with our fellow Big Ten institution, whose faculty and staff collaborate with our own and whose student-athletes compete alongside ours, and we grieve the loss of these innocent victims of another mass shooting, another act of senseless violence.”
Holloway’s full statement can be accessed from the link in the tweet below.
University of Illinois:
The Fighting Illini Athletics Department “mourns with our Michigan State family.”
University of Maryland:
Maryland President Darryll J. Pines released a statement:
“We witnessed a tragic and senseless act of violence last night at one of our Big Ten family institutions. We mourn the loss of three Michigan State University students and pray for the students still hospitalized. We are thinking of the entire Spartan community.”
Pines’ full statement can be accessed from the link in the tweet below.
University of Minnesota:
The Golden Gophers are sending “thoughts and love to the Michigan State community.”
University of Southern California:
USC President Carol Folt said she was “Heartsick over the tragic events at MSU.” USC will join the Big Ten in 2024.
University of Wisconsin:
UW Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin tweeted that it was “Utterly heartbreaking” to learn of the campus shooting at MSU.
Michigan State Vice President and Athletic Director Alan Haller (click first tweet to open the full thread).
