Terror Falls Over Michigan State University
The Spartan Statue, also known as “Sparty”, by Leonard Jungwirth on the campus of Michigan State University (Dean Keip/Unsplash).
Yet another massacre has endured after three were killed on the college campus of Michigan's State University.
Article by Georgia Simon, Associate Reporter
EAST LANSING, Mich. - America grieves yet another mass shooting after a gunman walked onto Michigan State University’s East Lansing campus, killing three students, on February 13th. The East Lansing community continues to mourn the loss of three beloved students.
Although having no affiliation with MSU, Anthony Dwayne McRae, 43, is the identified suspect. McRae killed himself on the scene as the police caught up to him on Monday. The father of the suspect explained that after his mother died, McRae became “evil and mean.” His neighbors complained of him using and firing his gun in the backyard. A motive remains unknown.
Michigan State University has one of the largest bodies of students in the country, with 50,000 enrolled and 5,000 members of faculty.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Denny Martin, became overcome with emotion when speaking about the workers of Lansing’s E.W. Sparrow Hospital, which is where the victims were transported upon injury.
“We received a lot of texts that were just, ‘I’m on my way,’ people showing up where they needed be,” he said.
Following the shooting, President Joe Biden released a statement over the incident, providing resources for Michigan Governor, Gretchen Whitmer.
“Last night I spoke to Governor Whitmer and directed the deployment of all necessary federal law enforcement to support local and state response efforts,” Biden said. “Our hearts are with these young victims and their families, the broader East Lansing and Lansing communities, and all Americans across the country grieving as the result of gun violence.”
Timeline:
At 8:15 p.m. the first gunshot was initially heard and reported in Berkey Hall. Pressing messages were immediately sent out to students, faculty, and workers on campus. From there, those on campus were held by a shelter-in-place order as law enforcement rushed to campus.
Later that night, another gunshot was reported from the Student Union. Both Berkey and the Union were open and unlocked that night. Many students reported on social media what was going on while the lockdown was in place.
A picture of the suspect emerged at 11 p.m. on campus-based security cameras. Police took action just 17 minutes after a tip was sent on the location of McRae. From there, he was shot by a self-inflicted gun wound, before the police could get to him.
Remembering the Victims:
Arielle Anderson was 19 with aspirations to be a pediatric surgeon. In a statement made by the Anderson family, they said, "she was working diligently to graduate from Michigan State University early to achieve her goals as quickly as possible.”
"We are absolutely devastated by this heinous act of violence upon her and many other innocent victims." Her family also added that Anderson was "sweet and loving with an infectious smile that was very contagious.”
Alex Verner was studying forensic science and biology at MSU after she graduated in 2020 from Clawson High School. She was described as “incredibly loved by everyone.”
"She was a tremendous student, athlete, leader and exemplified kindness every day of her life!... If you knew her, you loved her and we will forever remember the lasting impact she has had on all of us,” Clawson Public Schools Superintendent, Billy Shellenbarger, said.
MSU sophomore and Grosse Pointe native, Brian Fraser was studying business while in East Lansing. Fraser was also the chapter president of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.
“Brian was our leader and we loved him,” Phi Delta Theta said in a social media post. “He cared about his Phi Delta brothers, his family, Michigan State University, and Phi Delta Theta. We will greatly miss Brian and mourn his death deeply as our chapter supports each other during this difficult time.”
Oxford High School, Parkland High School, and Sandy Hook Elementary School:
80 miles northeast of Michigan State lies Oxford High School, yet another school terrorized by gun violence after 15-year-old Ethan Crumbley shot four students while injuring seven others on November 30, 2021. Today, MSU freshman Emma Riddle, a freshman studying history at Michigan State, yet again mourns another tragedy in her community.
“[Fourteen] months ago I had to evacuate from Oxford High School when a fifteen-year-old opened fire and killed four of my classmates and injured seven more. Tonight, I am sitting under my desk at Michigan State University, once again texting everyone ‘I love you,’” Riddle said.
The MSU terror occurred just one day before the five-year anniversary of the Parkland High School massacre which killed 17 people in South Florida.
“But five years after the bloodbath in Parkland, the scourge of US mass shootings continues nationwide-including one Monday that left three students dead and five critically wounded at Michigan State University,” CNN said.
Over a decade after the Sandy Hook Elementary mass shooting took place in Newtown, Connecticut, which killed 20 children and six adults, Jackie Mathews, an MSU Senior, posted a TikTok video on Monday night.
“I am 21 years old and this is the second mass shooting that I have now lived through,” Mathews said.
As said in her video, Mathews commands for change rather than “just love and prayers.”
“It needs to be legislation, it needs to be action. It’s not OK,” Mathews said. “We can no longer allow this to happen. We can longer be complacent.”
After Monday night, many across the country began reposting the hashtag #SpartanStrong in support of MSU.
Ending her very powerful video, Mathews said “I’ll forever be Sandy Hook Strong; I’ll forever be Spartan Strong.”