Three students killed when a gunman opened fire on the Michigan State University campus Monday night have been identified.
Alexandria “Alex” Verner, a 2020 graduate of Clawson High School, was killed in the shooting by CPS school officials, according to an email. She was a biology and anthropology junior at MSU and was scheduled to graduate in 2024.
Brian Fraser, 20, a Grosse Pointe South graduate student and an MSU business student, has been identified as the second victim in the massacre, the university police department confirmed.
Arielle Diamond Anderson, 19, the niece of reality star Deelishis, was the third victim to be identified on Tuesday.
Three students were killed and five others injured when 43-year-old Anthony McRae opened fire on the MSU campus at 8:18 p.m. Monday.
Alexandria Verner, a junior professor of biology and anthropology at Michigan State University, was killed in the shooting, according to an email from CPS school officials
Brian Fraser, 20, was a sophomore at Michigan State University and has been identified as another victim in the massacre, MSU police confirmed
Arielle Diamond Anderson, 19, the niece of reality star Deelishis, was the third identified victim
McRae killed himself last night after going on a senseless killing spree.
Verner was the first victim to be identified in a statement from her hometown school district, which described her as “an outstanding student, athlete, [and] leader”, who “exemplified goodness”.
‘If you would know [Alex]you loved her and we will forever remember the lasting impact she had on all of us,” the statement said.
Alex majored in Integrated Biology and Anthropology at MSU and was scheduled to graduate in 2024, according to her LinkedIn profile.
The second victim was identified by Michigan State University Police Department and Public Safety Police as Brian Fraser, a sophomore from Grosse Point.
According to Fraser’s LinkedIn page, he studied business and previously worked as a senior lifeguard at a Detroit country club.
Flavor of Love star Deelishis, who posted on social media Monday night that his niece was missing from college campuses, has since pinned a comment from another family member who wrote, “My sweet beautiful niece… RIP baby girl” .
Like Fraser, Anderson was a graduate of Grosse Pointe Public School. Her family told WXYZ that she loves children and wants to be a pediatrician one day.
Verner was identified in a statement from her hometown school district, which described her as “an outstanding student, athlete, [and] leader” who “exemplified kindness”
Verner’s high school released a statement: “If you knew [Alex]you loved her and we will forever remember the lasting impact she had on all of us,” the statement said
According to Fraser’s LinkedIn page, he studied business and previously worked as a senior lifeguard at a Detroit country club
Flavor of Love star Deelishis, who posted Monday that his niece was missing, has since pinned a comment from another family member, who wrote, “My sweet beautiful niece… RIP baby girl.”
Five others injured in the shooting remain hospitalized as of Tuesday afternoon.
The shooter has no known ties to the school and it remains unclear what his motive for the shooting is or what type of weapon he used.
McRae killed himself before police got to him after he murdered three MSU students in two different locations on campus last night and injured five others.
His father Michael, 66, today described him as a “mama’s boy” who became “nasty and mean” after his mother Linda died suddenly three years ago. The couple lived together at McRae’s family home, which is about five miles from the MSU campus.
McRae was found with a note in his pocket indicating a threat to two public schools in Ewing, New Jersey, which were closed for the day “as a precaution”.
McRae terrorized the campus for nearly four hours, running the streets brandishing a gun and firing bullets — but police have yet to determine a motive.
The security camera clip showed him in a denim jacket, ball cap and red sneakers, casually walking down a street, having just photographed two different locations on campus.
The 43-year-old gunman entered an academic building called Berkey Hall at 8:18 p.m. and shot residents indiscriminately.
The shooter was named by police as 43-year-old Anthony McRae. Records show a man of the same name, who lives in Lansing, was arrested in 2019 for leaving a loaded gun in his car
The suspected gunman pictured was last seen exiting the union building. He wore a denim jacket, red shoes, a black mask and a baseball cap. Police confirmed that he has since passed away
Police officers showed up at the scene in response to a barrage of urgent 911 calls, but the killer had already left the premises, exiting the building west and slinking down campus streets while searching for his next victims.
Less than 15 minutes later, gunshots were reported at the MSU Union building, a popular place for students to eat, drink and study just a 10-minute walk from Berkey Hall.
The Michigan state shooting comes on the eve of the fifth anniversary of the Valentine’s Day shooting at a Parkland, Fla., high school that killed 17 people.
It also follows the February 14, 2008 shooting at Northern Illinois University in Dekalb, in which a gunman killed five students and injured 17 others before fatally shooting himself.
HIGH SCHOOL ALMA MATER RECALLS MSU VICTIM ALEX VERNER AS ‘OUTSTANDING STUDENT-ATHLETE’ AND ‘LEADER’ WHO ‘EXAMPLED KINDNESS’
The full email from CPS Superintendent Billy Shellenbarger reads:
‘Good Morning CPS Families,
“It is with an extremely heavy heart that I speak to all of you this morning. As many of you have probably heard, there was an active shooting incident on the Michigan State University campus last night. Three people died in this incident. One of those students was one of us. I have spoken to the family and they have given me permission to share the following information. Alexandria Verner, a 2020 graduate of Clawson High School, died on the Michigan State University campus last night.
“Alex was and still is incredibly loved by everyone. She was a great student, athlete, leader and exemplary kindness every day of her life! Her parents, Ted and Nancy, as well as sister Charlotte and brother TJ, are also in mourning but certainly already feel the nurturing support of this amazing community. She started at Baker Preschool, transferred to Schalm Elementary School and finished at Clawson Middle and High School. If you knew her, you loved her and we will forever remember the lasting impact she had on all of us.
“Our school’s crisis response team is dealing with the situation calmly and compassionately. Additionally, members of the CPS crisis team are in buildings today and we have additional support from mental health staff from Royal Oak Schools and therapy dogs from Walled Lake Consolidated Schools. Please rest assured that team members will continue to support students and staff for as long as the need arises.
“When our children, regardless of their age, find out about or hear about these events, they may have questions or raise concerns. Please note that by voicing a concern they are seeking reassurance that they are safe. Listening to them, reassuring them and hugging them is crucial, regardless of their age. In addition, the National Association of School Psychologists has many tips on how to talk to children about violence on their website (link below).
“I understand that it can be difficult to send your children to school after an event like this. However, our schools are ready to support your children in any crisis situation. We love and care deeply about our students and their well-being and safety is our top priority.
“Should you have any further concerns, please feel free to contact your child’s school administration or me. As always, we thank you for your help and support.’