Communities across the country are shaken from the horrifying and devastating events at Michigan State University on Feb. 13. The events that occurred that night were truly horrific and heart-breaking.
An Overview of the Shootings
On Monday Feb. 13, gunman Anthony McRae opened fire in two buildings on campus, which were both unlocked and open to the public. Around 8:30 p.m., McRae went to Berkey Hall (home to the university’s College of Social Science) and open fired into a classroom, killing two people. Shortly after, the gunman moved to the university’s student union, where he killed a third person
The university immediately took action, emailing the students to evacuate or shelter in place until the shooter was found. After searching for three hours, the police found McRae off-campus, dead from a self-inflicted gun-shot wound.
Five students were wounded during the shooting but survived. They were all taken to the Sparrow Hospital, and were treated immediately. All eight victims were students at Michigan State University, while gunman Anthony McRae had no affiliation with the school.
More information on McRae
Anthony McRae was a 43-year-old with no affiliation to the university. He did have a prior arrest in his file, back in 2019 when he was arrested in Lansing, Michigan for carrying a pistol without a permit. While there is no known motive for the shooting, McRae’s father revealed in a telephone interview the Tuesday afterwards some insight into his son’s life. He said after the loss of his mother, in September of 2020, Anthony would rarely leave his room and was increasingly angry. Additionally, he said his son lived in a homeless shelter in Cincinnati for a brief period of time. He also revealed Anthony was not on any medications and was never diagnosed with mental health problems.
More information on the victims
The three students who were tragically lost in the shootings were Brian Fraser (20), Alexandria Verner (20) and Arielle Diamond Anderson (19). All three of these individuals were from Michigan, and were said by friends and family that they were all natural born leaders.
Brian Fraser was the president of the Michigan State Chapter of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. The brothers of the organization made it clear that he was not only a great leader, but a great friend. Alexandria Verner was a quiet girl who was known to be a role-model for others. She was also said to be a great student. Arielle Diamond Anderson was an ambitious student who had the goal of becoming the first doctor in her family. It was also revealed that she loved attending Michigan State University and was a huge fan of their basketball team. It is clear that these three students touched the lives of many members of the Michigan State University community.
The Michigan State community is struggling during these times of sadness and disparity. On Feb. 15, a vigil was held for the victims of the shooting. The school community came together and held an emotional but beautiful vigil. Since the shooting, the school has been emphasizing the importance of utilizing crisis resources. Recently, therapy dogs have been brought onto campus to bring comfort to all students. At all of Penn State’s athletic events since the shooting, a moment of silence has been offered after the National Anthem in honor of the victims of this horrific event. Universities all over the country have also been offering their love and support.
