Tragedy Strikes Michigan State University: Three Students Killed in Shooting

On Monday evening, tragedy struck Michigan State University as a shooting left three students dead and five critically injured. The shooter, 43-year-old Anthony McRae, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.^[0] The three students killed have been identified as Brian Fraser, a sophomore from Grosse Pointe, Alexandria Verner, a junior from Clawson, and Arielle Anderson, a junior from Grosse Pointe.^[1]

Verner was a 2020 graduate of Clawson High School, and Superintendent Billy Shellenbarger said in a statement that “Alex was and is incredibly loved by everyone.”^[2] Her tremendous academic, athletic, and leadership abilities, coupled with her daily acts of kindness, made her an exemplary person.^[3] Anderson was a Grosse Pointe North High School graduate, and her family released a statement saying that she was passionate about helping her friends and family, assisting children and serving people.^[1]

At 8:18 p.m., the incident began in Berkey Hall, and then it was transferred to the MSU Union right after the initial shooting, according to MSU Police.^[4] First responders found shooting victims at Berkey Hall and the scene moved to the nearby MSU Union, where police also tended to victims.^[5]

Five other students were critically injured in the shooting and remain hospitalized at Sparrow Hospital. Students were advised to “run, hide, fight,” and campus activities were canceled for the next 48 hours.^[5]

McRae had a recent history with firearms.^[6] He was arrested in Lansing and charged in June 2019 with a felony for carrying a concealed weapon without a permit.^[7] In November of that year, he was found guilty of having a loaded gun, a misdemeanor, and was given probation as a penalty.^[6]

Phi Delta Theta, the fraternity Fraser was president of, responded to the news of his death on Tuesday afternoon. The organization wrote on Twitter, “Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity was devastated to learn that Brian Fraser, chapter president of the Michigan Beta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta at Michigan State University, tragically lost his life on the evening of February 13.” The fraternity is working with MSU to connect the chapter with local campus services and opportunities to appropriately celebrate Brian’s life.^[8]

The victims' families and community are still in shock over the tragedy.

0. “Michigan State shooting victim Arielle Anderson wanted to become a doctor” Detroit Free Press, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2023/02/14/msu-shooting-victim-arielle-anderson-remembered/69904255007/

1. “Police ID 3 students, gunman killed in MSU shooting” WNEM, 14 Feb. 2023, https://www.wnem.com/2023/02/14/police-id-2-students-suspect-killed-msu-shooting/

2. “Michigan State shooting victims identified as Alexandria Verner, Brian Fraser, Arielle Anderson” CBS News, 14 Feb. 2023, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/msu-shooting-victims-brian-fraser-alexandria-verner-arielle-anderson-michigan-state-university

3. “MSU victims described as innocent, quiet go-getters” Detroit News, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2023/02/14/graduates-of-grosse-pointe-clawson-identified-as-msu-shooting-victims/69901454007

4. “Michigan State Shooting: Police say 3 killed, 5 injured, suspect had no connection to school” WLNS, 14 Feb. 2023, https://www.wlns.com/michigan-state-shooting/shots-fired-at-msu-students-instructed-to-hide-run-hide-fight/

5. “Michigan State University shooter found dead from self-inflicted gunshot after hours-long manhunt” FOX 2 Detroit, 14 Feb. 2023, https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/shots-fired-on-michigan-state-university-campus-police-say-to-secure-in-place

6. “Neighbors say MSU gunman shot into backyard to quiet dogs, communicated with father by notes” MLive.com, 14 Feb. 2023, https://www.mlive.com/news/2023/02/neighbors-say-msu-gunman-shot-into-backyard-to-quiet-dogs-communicated-with-father-by-notes.html

7. “Michigan State University attacker lied about gun in room, dad says” BBC, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64644992

8. “MSU shooting victim’s fraternity brothers share photos, statement” WILX, 14 Feb. 2023, https://www.wilx.com/2023/02/14/msu-shooting-victims-fraternity-brothers-shares-photos-statement