Three people were fatally shot and another five injured at Michigan State University Monday night after a gunman opened fire on-campus, before ultimately shooting himself and taking his own life.
The deadly mass shooting prompted a massive manhunt while forcing terrified students to hide in the dark, according to the Associated Press.
Gunman Opened Fire Inside On-Campus Buildings, Prompting Hours-Long Manhunt For Suspect
Authorities have since identified the shooter as 43-year-old Anthony McRae, per Fox 2 Detroit.
McRae’s death early Tuesday morning, just four hours after the shootings began at Berkey Hall – an academic building – before moving to nearby MSU Union, where students often go to eat and study.
Chris Rozman, interim deputy chief of the campus police department, said two people were killed at Berkey and another was killed at the MSU Union, while five people were in critical condition at Sparrow Hospital.
“This truly has been a nightmare we’re living tonight,” Rozman said.
"I cannot believe I'm doing this again"
Representative Elissa Slotkin gives 2nd mass shooting press conference in 15 monthsAs MSU shooter who murdered 3/wounded 5 is named as Anthony McRae, 43
Well, Mrs. Slotkin, why don't you address the elephant in the room
MENTAL ILLNESS~ pic.twitter.com/moyuzsJQtX
— EdoIsHip (@HipIsEdo) February 14, 2023
Widespread Manhunt For Gunman Takes Over Campus For Hours, Suspect Not Affiliated With The University
Hundreds of police officers descended upon the East Lansing campus to search for the gunman, who was described as a short Black man wearing a jean jacket, red shows and a baseball hat.
McCrae was eventually confronted by authorities off-campus before he killed himself with a “self-inflicted gunshot wound,” Rozman said.
Rozman provided little details on the gunman, but did confirm that the man was not a student or employee and had no affiliation with the university.
“We have no idea why he came to campus to do this tonight. That is part of our ongoing investigation,” the deputy chief went on to say.
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 following the shootings.
Parkland… Sandy Hook… Columbine… Michigan State University
Our children shouldn't have to 'run' for their lives while being educated.
Below is chilling a video from MSU last night. It's time our "pro-life" politicians finally do something other than "pray". pic.twitter.com/iiQsgqGMzD
— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) February 14, 2023
Mass Shooting Incident Forced Students To Hid In Darkness As Police Scoured The Campus For Shooter
The mass shooting incident forced students to hide and turn off all the lights in their rooms as police searched for the gunman.
WDIV-TV meteorologist Kim Adams, whose daughter attends Michigan State, told viewers that students were exhausted by the hours-long ordeal.
“They’ve been hiding, all the lights off in a dark room,” Adams said.
Aedan Kelley, a junior who lives a half-mile from campus, said he locked his doors and covered his windows “just in case” as sirens and a helicopter blared around him.
“It’s all very frightening,” Kelley said. “And then I have all these people texting me wondering if I’m OK, which is overwhelming.”
Authorities have identified Anthony McRae, 43, as the gunman who fatally shot 3 students at Michigan State University Monday night and injured 5 others. According to MDOC, McRae had previous gun offenses
Follow @CBKNEWS121
#MichiganStateUniversity #Michigan #14february pic.twitter.com/r4UYH0pYTb
— CBKNEWS (@CBKNEWS121) February 14, 2023
Monday Night’s Deadly Shooting Comes Exactly Five Years Since Parkland Florida Massacre Back In 2018
Monday night’s shooting is the latest in what has already become a deadly new year across the country. The Associated Press reports that dozens of people have been killed in mass shooting incidents since January 1, 2023.
Perhaps most notably was a shooting in California that left 11 Asian-Americans dead at a dance hall during celebrations of the Lunar New Year.
And last year saw over 600 mass shootings in the U.S., incidents where at least four people were killed or injured, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
“This is a uniquely American problem,” Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said.
This most recent mass shooting comes exactly five years since the then- 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz opened fire on students and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in the Miami suburban town of Parkland, Florida, murdering 17 people and injuring 17 others back on February 14, 2018.
