The gunman who killed three people at Michigan State University may also have planned to attack two schools, according to police.
Anthony McRae, 43, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after opening fire on students on the East Lansing campus Monday night.
Five people were also taken to hospital – some in danger of life – and the the campus was locked down for hours as police searched for him.
by McRae motive and any links to MSU are still unknownbut he had a history of mental illness and his neighbor described him as a “climber” who would fire his gun at home.
Police in Ewing, New Jersey, more than 800 miles away, said a note was found in his pocket that “indicated a threat” to two public schools there.
They didn’t provide further details but said on Facebook that McRae hadn’t lived there for several years.
He was living with his father in Lansing at the time of the shooting.
Michael McRae said his son had acquired a gun despite a 2019 conviction for not having the right permit, which would have prevented him from obtaining another gun.
“I told him to get rid of the gun,” Michael McRae told the Washington Post. “He kept lying to me about it and he told me he got rid of it.
“He’d go out shooting, and I’d see shell casings on the floor, and he’d be like, ‘Oh, it’s not me, Dad.'”
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“A giant flight of people headed my way”
The police have invaded the campus. Photo: Matthew Dae Smith/Lansing State Journal via AP
She said her son had struggled since his mother died in 2020, staying in his room for hours and not taking care of his appearance.
McRae’s attack began Monday night when he first shot people in an academic building before attacking others in the nearby MSU union.
Students described running for their lives and jumping out of windows to escape, while others barricaded rooms as police issued a “shelter in place” order.
The gunman was found several hours later – about five miles away – after someone recognized him from CCTV images and called the police.
He shot himself to death, though it’s unclear whether he was already dead when officers arrived.
Aspiring surgeon and fraternity president among the victims
Tributes were paid to the three students shot dead: Alexandria Vernier, Brian Fraser and Arielle Anderson.
Ms. Vernier studied integrative biology and anthropology and was described by her school district superintendent as an “extraordinary student, athlete, leader [who] kindness exemplified every day of his life.”
Brian Fraser was president of MSU’s Delta Theta fraternity.
Brian Fraser. photo: AP
“Brian was our leader and we loved him,” a statement read.
“He cared deeply for his Phi Delt brothers, his family, Michigan State University, and Phi Delta Theta.
“Brian will be greatly missed and we will mourn his passing deeply as our chapter supports each other during this difficult time.”
Arielle Anderson. photo: AP
Arielle Anderson’s family said they hoped to graduate from MSU soon so that she could become a surgeon as soon as possible.
They said she had an “infectious smile,” adding, “As much as we loved her, she loved us and each other even more.”
