Newsman: A gunman opened fire at Michigan State University killed three students and wounded five. Frightened students hid in classrooms and cars. The shooter eventually killed himself , Manhunt ended with a confrontation with police and his death from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police announced early Tuesday.
The suspect in the Michigan State University shooting has been identified. Authorities released the name Tuesday of the gunman as 43-year-old Anthony Dwayne McRae, according to Chris Rozman, interim deputy chief at the MSU Department of Police and Public Safety.
“We would like to thank you or community for their help. Because of our quick release of the photograph from the campus security cameras and help from our community, it was a caller’s tip that led law enforcement to that suspect in the city of Lansing,” he added.
As hundreds of officers scoured the East Lansing campus, about 90 miles northwest of Detroit, students hid where they could. Four hours after the first shots were reported, police announced the man’s death.
Interim Deputy Police Chief Rozman said the identities of the victims would be released later Tuesday. Rozman, of the campus police, said two people were killed at Berkey Hall and another was killed at the MSU Union, while five people were in critical condition at Sparrow Hospital.
Rozman also told reporters that a weapon was recovered, and said that while he cannot confirm any location, law enforcement is aware that there was a search warrant executed on a residence that was connected to the suspect in this case.
Officials do not know why 43-year-old Anthony McRae targeted the campus. He was not a student or employee and had no affiliation with the university, according to campus police.
“We have no idea why he came to campus to do this tonight. That is part of our ongoing investigation,” the deputy chief said.
“This truly has been a nightmare we’re living tonight,” said Chris Rozman.
The shooting began at 8:18 p.m. Monday night at an academic building known as Berkey Hall, and later moved to the nearby student union, a popular gathering spot for students to eat or study
Michigan State University Interim Deputy Police Chief Chris Rozman, speaking at a briefing Tuesday, said authorities received multiple calls of a shooting at Berkey Hall, an academic building, at around 8:18 p.m.
“There was an absolutely overwhelming police response to that call,” he said, adding that officers arrived within minutes. Two of those killed and several of the wounded were found there, he said.
Minutes later, calls came in reporting a second shooting scene at the nearby student union building, he said, sending officers scrambling to that location.
Police said the gunman started shooting in one building and snuck to the other, as officers started arriving and investigators pushed out the suspect’s photo.
President Joe Biden spoke with Whitmer about the shooting.
“President Biden and the First Lady are praying for the 3 killed & others injured in East Lansing,” the White House press secretary tweeted.
“This is a uniquely American problem,” Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer lamented.
Michigan State has about 50,000 students, including 19,000 who live on campus. All classes, sports and other activities were canceled for 48 hours.Some schools and East Lansing offices will also be closed.
The shooting at Michigan State is the latest in what has become a deadly year so far in the U.S.
Tuesday marks fifteen years since the shooting at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois.
This also marks five years since the Parkland school shooting in Florida. A gunman murdered 14 students and three staff members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
