Michigan State University active shooter and suspect, Anthony Dwayne McRae, was convicted of felon and of carrying a concealed weapon, before mass shooting East Lansing.
His late mother, Linda Gail McRae, was originally from Trenton, New Jersey, and “enjoyed worshipping and talking about the Lord, working in the church” and “caring for others,” an obit shows.
She died on Sept. 13, 2020, in Sparrow Hospital — the same Lansing hospital treating the five injured by her crazed son. The killer was found with a weapon, police said, without detailing what it was.
McRae was finally tracked down after a local resident called a tip line during the more than three hours he was hunted after shooting up two locations at the school, officials said.
Trauma surgeon Denny Martin broke down at Tuesday’s press conference as he detailed treating the five injured, all of whom remain in critical condition Tuesday.
All five were students, as were the three killed, officials said, without identifying any.
Shots were fired in two locations on the sprawling East Lansing campus, about 90 miles northwest of Detroit.
Multiple people were reported injured at Michigan State University after shootings at two locations were reported on the East Lansing campus Monday night, university police said.
Students were urged to “secure in place” as officials searched for a shooter.
“Run, Hide, Fight,” said an alert sent to students about 8:30 p.m. “Run means evacuate away from danger if you can do so safely, Hide means to secure-in-place, and Fight means protect yourself if no other option.”
They said later that victims had been transported to Sparrow Hosptial but did not provide additional details about the number of people who were injured or their conditions.
University police tweeted that shots had been fired near Berkey Hall and that anyone in the area should shelter in place.
About 45 minutes later, officials said they were searching for a suspect they believed to be on foot. Students on campus reported on social media that they were hiding or barricaded as officers fanned out.
The FBI said late Monday it was sending agents to MSU.
“The FBI is responding to assist in the reports of an active shooter on the Michigan State University campus,” the bureau’s Detroit office tweeted.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said she was being updated about the situation.
“I’ve been briefed on the shooting at Michigan State University,” she tweeted. “The Michigan State Police along with @msupolice, local law enforcement and first responders are on the ground. Let’s wrap our arms around the Spartan community tonight.”
Police said they are searching for one suspect, described as a short male wearing a mask.
Police reported shots fired near Berkey Hall on the East Lansing campus around 8:30 p.m. ET, telling the campus community in a tweet to “Please secure-in-place immediately.”
“I’ve been briefed on the shooting at Michigan state University. The Michigan State Police along with @msupolice, local law enforcement and first responders are on the ground. Let’s wrap our arms around the Spartan Community tonight. We will keep everyone updated as we learn more,” the governor tweeted.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Detroit also tweeted that it’s “responding to an Active Shooter” at the university.
Special agents from the FBI are also responding to assist, a spokesperson from the bureau’s Detroit office tells CNN.
Police said victims are being taken to E.W. Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, but did not provide information on how many were injured or what their conditions were at this time.
About an hour later, campus police reported “There is another reported shooting at IM East.”
“It appears there is only one suspect at this time,” MSU police said.
IM East is a campus fitness center about a mile away from Berkey Hall, where police first reported shots were fired. Around 10:10 p.m., police tweeted that Berkey Hall and other several campus buildings were cleared, including Brody Hall, Snyder/Phillips Hall, Mason Hall, Abbot Hall, Landon Hall and the MSU Union.
MSU student Nithya Charles told CNN she was sheltering in place within a lounge area at Campbell Hall — the campus’ student union — on the north side of campus.
“We’re not learning very much so much,” Charles told CNN’s Erin Burnett, explaining that she’s sheltering with about 30 other people. She said she did not hear any gunshots herself, but said some of her co-workers heard shots.
