Michigan State University Shooting Leaves 3 Dead, 5 Injured

  • By Matt Jones
  • February 14, 2023

National news reports that a gunman killed three students and wounded five before taking his own life on Monday night on the campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich. The shooting resulted in a full campus lockdown and a three-hour manhunt for the shooter, whom police confronted a few miles away from campus, according to AP News. The shooter has been identified as 43-year-old Anthony McRae, who police said is not a student or staff member of the university.

Local news station WWMT Grand Rapids/Lansing reports that the shooting took place in two locations. Two people were killed at Berkey Hall, an academic building, and one at the MSU Union. Five more victims were hospitalized, some with life-threatening injuries, said MSU Police and Public Safety interim deputy chief Chris Rozman. Rozman said that the first shots-fired call came in at 8:15 p.m. local time and that the Michigan State University Alert System distributed a text message at about 8:30 p.m.

“We have absolutely no idea what the motive was,” said Rozman. “This is still fluid. There are still crime scenes that are being processed, and we are still in the process of putting together the pieces to try to understand what happened.”

Police released a photo of the suspect captured by a security camera at about 11:30 p.m. Rozman said that an “alert citizen” recognized him in the Lansing area and called police. According to Rozman, police confronted the shooter in an industrial area about five miles away from campus, where he turned the gun on himself.

“Anything can happen in the blink of an eye, and I would have never thought that this is something that would happen to me,” said MSU freshman Georgia Gurzick via WWMT. “All of a sudden, it was at my university.”

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer released a statement after police confirmed that the shooter was dead. “Spartans will cry and hold each other a little closer,” she said in part. “We will mourn the loss of beautiful souls and pray for those fighting for their lives in the hospital.”

All campus activities including classes, athletics, extracurriculars have been cancelled for 48 hours, according to Michigan State University Police.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning and Campus Security and Life Safety. He can be reached at [email protected]

Featured

  • Campus Parking Problems: Modern Security Solutions

    Parking: for many, it’s an everyday fact of life. Whenever we drive somewhere, we must consider parking, and often, that parking experience sets our mood and expectations for the rest of the journey. Whether a quick grocery store pickup or long-term airport parking, the parking lot is an integral part of whatever type of campus you’re visiting. This includes destinations like retail stores, your local high school, hospitals, and the park-and-ride systems present in major cities. Read Now

  • The Critical Need for Naloxone on School Campuses

    The opioid crisis is escalating across the United States, increasingly affecting all segments of the population, including students on K-12 and college campuses. As the threat from opioids, especially fentanyl, becomes more widespread, it's critical for schools to have naloxone available—an antidote for opioid overdoses. This article discusses why naloxone should be as common as Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in educational settings. Read Now

  • Best Practices for A Holistic Approach to Video Solutions in Campus Security

    Video surveillance is one of the most common security measures implemented by educational institutions today, but installing cameras is just the beginning. Adopting a holistic, comprehensive approach to video surveillance is a more effective way to safeguard campus communities and fully realize the value of your investment in physical security systems. Read Now

  • Back to School Planning is a Year-Round Commitment

    With summer underway, K-12 and college students, faculty, and staff are taking a well-earned break to recharge and gear up for the fall. It’s also the season when security professionals can get in and get busy installing upgrades and retrofits before the new school year starts. It’s a brief window, but, thanks to diligent planning throughout the year, the pros are always ready to hit the ground running at the last bell of spring term to make the most out of the limited time available. Read Now

Most   Popular

Webinars

Whitepapers