Michigan State University shooting: 3 dead, 5 injured; suspect dead

EAST LANSING, Mich. — A gunman killed three people and injured five others Monday in a shooting at Michigan State University, authorities said.

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The gunman, identified by police as 43-year-old Anthony Dwayne McRae, had no known connection with MSU. He shot seven people, killing two, at Burkey Hall before shooting and killing another person at the MSU Student Union building, according to police. He later died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, officials said.

Five people remained in critical condition Tuesday.

Third slain student identified

Update 3:20 p.m. EST Feb. 14: Police on Tuesday released the identity of the third student killed in Monday’s shooting. Earlier, the family had asked that she not be identified.

Arielle Anderson, a junior from Grosse Pointe, died in the shooting, MSU police said. Earlier, authorities identified sophomore Brian Fraser, from Grosse Pointe, and junior Alexandria Verner, from Clawson, as the other two students who were shot and killed.

Five other students who were injured Monday remain hospitalized.

— Theresa Seiger, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

‘We have to do something’ about gun violence, Biden says

Update 2 p.m. EST Feb. 14: President Joe Biden shared condolences for the families of students killed and injured Monday while speaking to the National Association of Counties on Tuesday.

“Three lives have been lost, five seriously injured, and it’s a family’s worst nightmare,” he said. “It’s happening far too often in this country. Far too often.”

The president urged Congress to act on gun law reform, adding that “there is no rationale for assault weapons and magazines that hold 50, 70 bullets.

“We have to do something to stop gun violence from ripping apart our communities,” he said to cheers from the crowd.

— Theresa Seiger, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

Biden: ‘Too many American communities have been devastated by gun violence’

Update 1 p.m. EST Feb. 14: President Joe Biden said he and first lady Jill Biden are praying for the students killed and injured in Monday’s shooting at Michigan State University.

“Too many American communities have been devastated by gun violence,” the president added. “The fact that this shooting took place the night before this country marks five years since the deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, should cause every American to exclaim ‘enough’ and demand that Congress take action.”

On Feb. 14, 2018, Nikolas Cruz opened fire at his former high school, killing 17 people and injuring 17 more. He was sentenced last year to serve life in prison without the possibility of parole.

On Tuesday, Biden urged Congress to enact gun law reforms, including requiring background checks on all gun sales, requiring the safe storage of guns and banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

“Action is what we owe to those grieving today in Michigan and across America,” Biden said.

— Theresa Seiger, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

2 killed in shooting identified

Update 12:35 p.m. EST Feb. 14: Michigan State University police on Tuesday identified two of the three students slain in Monday’s on-campus shooting.

Brian Fraser, a sophomore Grosse Pointe, and Alexandria Verner, a junior from Clawson, were killed.

Police declined to identify the third student who died in Monday’s shooting, citing the wishes of their family.

Five students injured Monday remain hospitalized in critical condition, officials said.

— Theresa Seiger, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

Police investigating note found with suspected shooter

Update 12:05 p.m. EST Feb. 14: Michigan State University police confirmed Tuesday that authorities are investigating a note that was found with the man suspected of shooting eight students before turning the gun on himself on Monday night.

Police said the note was found at the time they located Anthony McRae, 43. Authorities said they found him off campus after getting a tip from a community member who recognized him in photos released by police on Monday night.

It was not immediately clear what the letter said, although officials in Ewing, New Jersey, earlier said it included a threats against Ewing High School and Fisher Middle School.

— Theresa Seiger, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

Schools closed in New Jersey after note found on shooting suspect

Update 11:25 a.m. EST Feb. 14: Officials with Ewing Public Schools in New Jersey canceled classes Tuesday out of “an abundance of caution” after authorities found a note threatening two district schools on the man suspected of shooting students at Michigan State University.

Police said the MSU shooter, identified as 43-year-old Anthony McRae, had ties to the Ewing Township area, though he had not lived in the area for the last several years. He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after shooting eight people, killing three, in Michigan, authorities said.

“When McRae was found by police in Michigan, he had a note in his pocket that indicated a threat to two Ewing Public Schools,” Ewing police said in a statement. “After further investigation, it has been determined that the incident is isolated to Michigan, and there is no threat to Ewing Schools.”

School district superintendent David Gentile said Ewing High School and Fisher Middle School were named in the letter found with McRae.

Classes are expected to resume on Wednesday.

— Theresa Seiger, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

MSU classes canceled until Monday

Update 9:20 a.m. EST Feb. 14: Classes at Michigan State University have been canceled until Monday following the deadly shooting on campus, MSU Interim President Teresa Woodruff said.

At a news conference, Woodruff said the school would be running under modified operations for a time before full campus operations resume.

“We will provide the resources students need for the time period they need,” she added.

— Theresa Seiger, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

Biden, Gov. Whitmer spoke after MSU shooting

Update 9 a.m. EST Feb. 14: President Joe Biden spoke Monday night to Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer following the deadly shooting at Michigan State University, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.

“President Biden and the First Lady are praying for the 3 killed & others injured in East Lansing,” Jean-Pierre said in a statement posted on social media.

— Theresa Seiger, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

Suspected shooter found off-campus after tip from citizen

Update 8:50 a.m. EST Feb. 14: Police confirmed Tuesday that a weapon was recovered after a gunman opened fire on MSU students at two buildings on campus on Monday night, killing three people and injuring five others.

Interim Deputy Chief Chris Rozman of the MSU Department of Police and Public Safety said authorities found the suspected shooter, identified as 43-year-old Anthony McRae, following a tip from a citizen. Police had released a photo of McRae on Monday night as they were searching for him.

McRae died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound as police confronted him, according to police.

Rozman said a weapon was recovered following the shooting. Authorities have also executed a search warrant on a home connected with McRae, he said.

— Theresa Seiger, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

Victims were all students; 5 remain in critical condition

Update 8:30 a.m. EST Feb. 14: Authorities identified the person who shot several people at Michigan State University on Monday night as Anthony McRae, 43.

Chris Rozman, interim deputy chief of the MSU Department of Police and Public Safety, said McRae died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after he shot several people at the university’s Burkey Hall and one person at the MSU Student Union building.

McRae had no known affiliation to the campus.

“I know everybody wants to know what the motive is — we don’t have an answer right now. That’s the truth,” Rozman said.

Three students died and five others were injured. Denny Martin, chief medical officer at E.W. Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Michigan, said the wounded remained in critical condition on Tuesday morning.

“Our Spartan community is reeling today,” Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said at a news conference on Tuesday. “We mourn the loss of beautiful souls today, and pray for those who are continuing to fight for their lives,”

— Theresa Seiger, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

MSU campus to be closed for 2 days

Update 1:44 a.m. EST Feb. 14: Michigan State University President Teresa K. Woodruff in a news conference Tuesday said that resources for students and staff will be available around 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Woodruff said the campus will be closed for two days for staff and students to process what happened and be able to start healing.

Michigan State University police Interim Deputy Police Chief Chris Rozman said the five victims that were taken to the hospital all remain in critical condition. The incident with the suspect happened off campus in the city of Lansing.

Rozeman said that the man is 43 years old and is not in any way affiliated with the university.

Neither a motive nor the name of the suspect has been released.

Police: Suspected shooter dies from self-inflicted gunshot wound

Update 12:30 a.m. EST Feb. 14: In a news conference early Tuesday morning, Michigan State University police Interim Deputy Police Chief Chris Rozman said the suspect was not on campus. He had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Rozman said that there is no longer a threat on campus.

“The suspect has been located off campus. It appears he has died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. There is no longer a threat to campus and the shelter-in-place has been lifted,” police said on Twitter.

The identity of the suspect has not yet been released.

Anyone with information is asked to call Michigan State University police at 844-99-MSUPD or by email at tips@police.msu.edu.

Three dead in MSU shooting, police say

Update 11:42 p.m. EST Feb. 13: Michigan State University police on Twitter confirmed that there are three dead after a shooting on campus. This is in addition to five victims who were taken to the hospital.

Photos of suspected shooter released by police

Update 11:22 p.m. EST Feb. 13: Michigan State University police on Twitter released photos 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,” police said.

At least 5 injured in shooting

Update 11:10 p.m. EST Feb. 13: In a news conference Monday evening, Michigan State University police Interim Deputy Police Chief Chris Rozman said that there were at least five victims and some have life-threatening injuries.

Rozman confirms that the shooting began in Berkey Hall on campus and the shooter moved to the Michigan State University student union.

The victims have been taken to the hospital for treatment.

The suspect remains at large. The suspect has been described as a short Black man, Rozman said.

Rozman continues to urge students, employees and others to stay away from campus. Rozman urges anyone on campus to remain sheltered in place until cleared.

Original story: Michigan State University police said on Twitter the suspect is believed to be on foot and that there appears to be one suspect.

Students and staff were ordered to shelter in place by police following a report of shots fired around the East Lansing campus.

Police said multiple people have been reportedly injured in the shootings, according to The Associated Press.

An alert was sent out just after 8:30 p.m. from police reporting a “shots fired incident occurring on or near the East Lansing campus,” according to the AP.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Twitter said that she was briefed about the shooting.

“The Michigan State Police along with Michigan State University police, local law enforcement, and first responders are on the ground. Let’s wrap our arms around the Spartan community tonight. We will keep everyone updated as we learn more,” Whitmer said on Twitter.

The extent of the injuries has not yet been released.

Michigan State University police said that all campus activities have been canceled for 48 hours following the shooting. The campus activities include athletics, classes, and all-campus-related activities.

Check back for more on this developing story.

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