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Michigan State shooting update: John Hao attends 76ers game as guest of star James Harden

Sparty touches the Spartan Statue
Sparty, the mascot for Michigan State University, touches the Spartan Statue surrounded by flowers on Wednesday. The flowers were placed there after a deadly shooting on campus Monday night. (Bridge photo by Dale Young)
May 7, 2023
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Michigan State shooting update: John Hao attends 76ers game as guest of star James Harden
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Editor's note: This is a developing story on the Feb.13 shooting on the Michigan State University campus that police say left three dead and five injured. Bridge is updating the story in this space as news develops.

Sunday, May 7

Michigan State University mass shooting victim John Hao sat courtside at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Sunday as a special guest of Philadelphia 76ers star James Harden.

Hao, a junior who was 20 at the time of the Feb. 13 shooting, met Harden and was featured on national television during a post-game interview after Harden hit a game-winning field goal over the Boston Celtics in the NBA playoffs.

Harden signed his game-worn shoes for Hao and said he’s “going to be at every game from here on out.” The two met after Hao was paralyzed from the waist down in the campus shooting that killed three students and critically wounded five others.

“He brought me good vibes, good energy,” Harden said of Hao, whom he called “Little JH.”

Hao is a Harden fan and sports management major. The two communicated over FaceTime while Hao was still at Sparrow Hospital. He recently left a Chicago rehabilitation center and attended the game with his parents, who are from China. 

The shooting killed and Arielle Diamond Anderson, of Harper Woods, Brian Fraser of Grosse Point Park and Alexandria Verner of Clawson. The gunman killed himself hours after the shooting when confronted by police.

Tuesday, May 2

Michigan State University will award posthumous degrees this weekend to the three students who were killed in the February mass shooting on campus. 

The gunman killed Brian Fraser, 20, of Grosse Pointe Park, Alexandria Verner, 20, of Clawson and Arielle Diamond Anderson, 19, of Harper Woods. (Profiles of the three students are contained in the links above.) 

The students’ degrees will be announced at their college-level ceremonies, MSU officials said. 

Fraser will receive a bachelor of arts degree from the Eli Broad College of Business. Verner and Anderson will receive bachelor of science degrees from the College of Natural Science. 

Both ceremonies are set to take place Saturday. 

Generally, the university reads the name of a recipient of a posthumous degree at the college-level ceremony, MSU spokesman Dan Olsen told Bridge Michigan on Tuesday. 

It’s up to the family if a representative walks up to the stage to accept the degree. If a representative does not accept the degree during the ceremony, the university will mail it to the family. 

If you would like to watch the commencement ceremonies virtually, you can watch the livestream at commencement.msu.edu.

Additionally, the Associated Students of Michigan State University, the undergraduate student government, is allocating $10,000 for a commemorative bench to honor the three students.  

– Isabel Lohman

More coverage of the MSU shooting:

April 4, 2023 

Last MSU shooting victim leaves Sparrow Hospital 

The last of the five students critically injured by a gunman in the February mass shooting at Michigan State University has been discharged from Sparrow Hospital to another facility.

Michigan State University Police and Public Safety made the announcement Tuesday afternoon.

The news comes a few days after the MSU Physiology Department posted on social media a call for donations for MSU student Nate Statly. The post said he was still in a coma at the hospital. Sparrow spokesman John Foren told Bridge Michigan on Tuesday the student was in critical but stable condition when the student left the hospital, but would not confirm the identity of the student.

Statly is a junior studying environmental biology and zoology. He was one of five students critically injured in the Feb. 13 shooting in which three other MSU students were killed. 

The identity of one of the five students is not known. But family or friends have identified Statly and two other students through GoFundMe: Guadalupe Huapilla-Perez , John Hao. Additionally, Troy Forbush, announced he was one of the students to be injured that night in a Facebook post. 

The gunman killed Brian Fraser, 20, of Grosse Pointe Park, Alexandria Verner, 20, of Clawson and Arielle Diamond Anderson, 19, of Harper Woods.

Monday, March 27 

MSU shooting victim ‘recovery has been hard’

One of the Michigan State University students injured by a gunman in last month’s mass shooting has shared her experience in a GoFundMe update on Thursday. 

Guadalupe Huapilla-Perez, a junior studying hospitality business, is one of several students shot in Berkey Hall during a Cuban studies class. In her post, she details memories from the night of the tragedy and her road to recovery. 

“On February 13th, I came face to face with one of my biggest fears: experiencing a school shooting,” she wrote. "I not only experienced it that night, but am a living reminder of it every day since.” 

Some of the things that happened that night are a blur, she said,  but she does remember, “the sound of the first bullet shot.”  

“I remember calling my mom - afraid, so afraid that that would be the last time I talked to her. For her, a call she never expected but always feared receiving.” 

Guadalupe was shot twice and had her spleen removed. Her lungs, colon, stomach and diaphragm were injured in the shooting, her sister wrote on the crowdfunding site. 

“I don't remember exactly when I got shot but I remember a classmate holding their shirt to my abdomen area. I can't remember the pain of my wounds but I can remember the pain I felt in my heart seeing this horrible tragedy unfold before me.” 

She was discharged from Sparrow Hospital on March 13, exactly one month after the shooting. 

“There are challenging months ahead of me, as my wounds require follow- up surgeries, making me relive that pain and that moment once again. It is a vulnerable thing to admit, but recovery has been very hard.”  

Huapilla-Perez is the daughter of migrant workers from south Florida. When her family was notified of what happened, they immediately traveled to Michigan. Although she has been discharged from the hospital, her doctors have not cleared her to travel back to Florida, she wrote in the post. 

“I hold out hope for the day I can go home and continue my recovery in the comfort and safety of my family home.” 

Her sister, Selena Huapilla-Perez, created the GoFundMe on February 14 on behalf of Guadalupe, which has raised over $477,000 since. 

“I am so thankful that my parents and siblings have been by my side. My nieces & nephews and my dog, all who I missed deeply, were able to travel from Florida to Michigan to come see me.”

The gunman killed three students during the mass shooting: Brian Fraser, 20, of Grosse Pointe Park, Alexandria Verner, 20, of Clawson and Arielle Diamond Anderson, 19, of Harper Woods. 

“A day doesn't go by that I don't mourn the loss of Arielle, Alexandria, and Brian,”she wrote in the post. “I didn't know them closely but it is a painful feeling to live with knowing I shared their last moments with them. Descansen en Paz.” 

Guadalupe is one of five students who were injured that night. John Hao and Nate Statly were identified by family and friends through GoFundMe accounts.  Troy Forbush, announced he was one of the students to be injured that night in a Facebook post. The identity of the other victim is unknown.

11:30 a.m. Wednesday March 22

Fourth student injured in shooting released from hospital

Another student injured in the Feb. 13 mass shooting at Michigan State University has been discharged from Sparrow Hospital, Sparrow spokesperson John Foren told Bridge on Wednesday.

The person had previously been in fair condition. One student remains in critical condition. 

Four of the five students who were sent to Sparrow Hospital the night of the shooting have now been discharged. 

The identity of one of the five students is not known. But family or friends have identified three students through GoFundMe: Guadalupe Huapilla-Perez , John Hao and Nate Statly. Additionally, Troy Forbush, announced he was one of the students to be injured that night in a Facebook post. 

The gunman killed three students: Brian Fraser, 20, of Grosse Pointe Park, Alexandria Verner, 20, of Clawson and Arielle Diamond Anderson, 19, of Harper Woods.

Their names continued to be painted on the rock Tuesday afternoon. 

4:30 p.m. Tuesday March 14

Michigan State University Interim President Teresa Woodruff on Tuesday announced promotions for two law enforcement officers who have served in key roles in the investigation of the Feb. 13 mass shooting.

In an email to students, faculty and staff, Woodruff said interim deputy chief Chris Rozman has been appointed police chief, and she is asking the Board of Trustees to appoint Marlon Lynch to vice president and chief safety officer from chief of police and vice president of public safety.

Rozman has served as a spokesperson for the police department immediately after a gunman killed three students and wounded five others. Lynch, who was appointed in 2021 after serving at the University of Utah, has testified before the Legislature about safety protocols at MSU.

Woodruff said the decision will allow “expanded focus and attention on university safety planning.”

Lynch’s responsibilities will include leading the process of centralizing security systems, creating and implementing the security operations center and integrating safety and security functions to the school’s campuses outside of East Lansing, Woodruff said. 

Friday, March 10

State police release note, timeline

Michigan State Police have released new details about the Feb. 13 shooting that killed three students and injured five others.

The police released a note from the suspected gunman and a timeline that details the 8-minute attack and the school’s response.

Related: MSU shooter motive hinted at in note: ‘They made me who I am today a killer’

“I’m tired of being rejected. Outcast. Loner. People hate me. They made me who I’m am today a killer,” the note read. 

Police say the gunman died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The timeline shows that the gunman had already walked to the MSU Union, killing one student, and had left campus before the first text-message alert blast was sent by campus police.

Thursday, March 9

12:04 p.m.

Approaching the one-month anniversary of the Michigan State University shooting, school officials won’t say when they will release basic details of the attack, including a timeline of the tragedy.

Unlike similar shootings, MSU has not revealed several facts about the case. Three students were shot and five critically wounded on Feb. 13 at two MSU buildings, but university officials won’t say how many students were shot in each facility or reveal the route of the gunman as he traveled through campus before fleeing on foot.

The suspected gunman shot and killed himself off-campus after being confronted by police, and police have repeatedly said they believe the man acted alone.

Related: MSU shooting victim’s mom testifies for gun safety laws

“I’m not going to go into the investigative components of what happened on Feb.13,” MSU Police Chief Marlon Lynch told reporters Thursday after testifying in front of a House committee Thursday morning. 

“It’s a pending investigation. There’s a lot of information to go through. We are partnering along with the FBI and the State Police in regards to that. So when it’s available, we will make it available to the community.” 

Lynch, along with officials from Central Michigan University and University of Michigan-Flint, testified at the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education and Community Colleges.

The university leaders shared details on their safety protocols and how more state funding for campus safety would benefit. 

Subcommittee Chair Rep. Samantha Steckloff, D-Farmington Hills, plans to propose $100 million in upgrades for campus safety statewide.

On Wednesday evening, the mother of one of the five students critically injured in the shooting testified in the House Judiciary Committee. 

“We are (the) victim of a failed system that can't keep guns from those who aim to inflict devastating harm,” said Krista Grettenberger, the mother of Troy Forbush.

Monday, March 6

11:02 a.m.

One of the Michigan State University students injured by a gunman in last month’s mass shooting is improving but still requires two follow-up surgeries, her older sister wrote in a GoFundMe update Sunday. 

Guadalupe Huapilla-Perez, a junior studying hospitality business, is one of several students shot in Berkey Hall during a Cuban studies class.  She is a 2020 graduate of Immokalee High School in Florida, where she was class president. 

Her sister, Selena Huapilla-Perez said Guadalupe is regaining her appetite and confidence in eating while “continuing to improve” in physical and occupational therapy. 

But Guadalupe, who was shot twice, still experiences intense pain. Guadalupe gets her wound VAC, a device that reduces air pressure around a wound to help it heal, changed three times a week. Each time, she tells her family “No puedo, ya no puedo. Me duele mucho,” her sister said. This translates to  "I can't, I can't anymore. It hurts too much,” her sister said. 

“These are words that pain us for many reasons but one being - we have never heard these words from her before,” said Selena Huapilla-Perez. “Lupe is the type of person who says "I can do this" to any challenge she sets her eyes on. We feel the pain of her words so deeply. Every day we are hopeful, always hopeful, that her and the other victims recovery will be one of great strength.” 

Guadalupe previously had her spleen removed. 

Two students remain in the hospital from the shooting and three others have been discharged. Three other students died in the Feb. 13 mass shooting. 

Students are on spring break this week. 

Friday, March 3

2:40 p.m. 

Two more Michigan State University students injured by a gunman last month have been discharged from Sparrow Hospital, Sparrow spokesperson John Foren told Bridge on Friday.

It is not clear if these students were sent home or transferred to a different medical facility.

Related: Michigan State shooting victims: Two more students released from hospital

A third injured student, Troy Forbush, said on Facebook on Sunday that he had been discharged.

In total, there were five students critically injured in the shooting. Of the two students who remain in Sparrow Hospital, one remains in critical condition and another is in fair condition, Foren said.

Three other MSU students died in the Feb. 13 mass shooting. They are Arielle Diamond Anderson, Brian Fraser and Alexandria Verner.

Tuesday, Feb. 28

5:26 p.m.

Michigan State University will tighten restrictions on access to buildings starting March 13, one month to the day after a mass shooting on campus killed three students.

Buildings will require key card access from 6 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. Monday through Fridays — and at all times on weekends, MSU spokesperson Emily Gerkin Guerrant confirmed Tuesday evening. The buildings have restricted access from either 11 p.m. or 11:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m, she said.

Related: Michigan State shooting: Alerts to students delayed as police rushed to campus

Gerkin Guerrant said members of the public can still use these buildings, however, they would need to coordinate with someone who has a keycard in order to get inside these buildings during restricted times. 

She said the university plans to announce more details about the security Wednesday. 

Students are on spring break next Monday through Friday.

Monday, Feb. 27

5:28 p.m.

The identity of the fourth student injured by a gunman on Feb. 13 has been revealed as Troy Forbush.

The music education student announced Sunday he was one of the five students critically injured from the shooting. 

He has been discharged from Sparrow Hospital.

Related: MSU shooting: fourth victim identified, discharged from hospital

“I took a bullet to my chest, had a brush with death, and almost didn’t make it if it weren’t for the incredible doctors who saved my life in emergency surgery that night,” Forbush said in his post. 

Sparrow spokesperson John Foren told Bridge Monday morning one student has been discharged, one is in fair condition, two students are in serious but stable condition and one student remains in critical condition.

The identity of one injured student, believed to be from China, has not been revealed. The others who remain hospitalized are Guadalupe Huapilla-Perez , John Hao and Nate Statly.

The gunman killed three students:  Brian Fraser, 20, of Grosse Pointe Park, Alexandria Verner, 20, of Clawson and Arielle Diamond Anderson, 19, of Harper Woods.

Thursday, Feb. 23

11:56 a.m.

One of the five students injured in last week’s mass shooting has been discharged from Sparrow Hospital, MSU Police said on Twitter Thursday morning. 

Additionally, one student is in fair condition, two students are in serious but stable condition and one student is still in critical condition at Sparrow.

The identities of two of the students are not known. But family or friends have identified three students through GoFundMe:Guadalupe Huapilla-Perez , John Hao and Nate Statly.

The gunman killed three students:  Brian Fraser, 20, of Grosse Pointe Park, Alexandria Verner, 20, of Clawson and Arielle Diamond Anderson, 19, of Harper Woods.

In a recent post on social media, Hao's roommate noted that the 20-year-old from China is paralyzed, but his condition is improving. Hao has is committed to staying at Michigan State and pursuing a career in sports management in soccer or basketball, the roommate, Argent Qian wrote on GoFundMe.

In a separate Twitter post, Hao was recently shown having a FaceTime conversation with his favorite NBA player, Philadelphia 76ers star James Harden.

Wednesday, Feb. 22

5:20 p.m.

Michigan State University officials and Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel are warning people to watch for scammers when purchasing merchandise claiming to support the Spartan Strong Fund. 

The fund was started by the university in the aftermath of the shooting on campus that killed three and injured five others. 

The university’s licensing department has seen an uptick in the number of scams selling unlicensed Spartan Strong products, meaning the university can’t verify if proceeds from those sales will be donated to the fund, according to a news release. 

These are the licensed vendors for Spartan Strong merchandise, per university officials: Nudge Printing, Colosseum, Underground Printing East Lansing, Blue 84, Color Shock, A. Dean Watkins, 4Imprint, Sewing Concepts, Zephyr, Gametime Sidekicks, Spartan Spirit Shop, Custom Yard Signs, Meijer, Fanatics, Rally House, Alumni Hall, Student Bookstore and Amazon.

On Wednesday, Nessel urged consumers in a statement “to always do their research before donating to ensure that their contributions will be put to good use.”

“Unfortunately, bad actors often take advantage of times such as these, when individuals are most vulnerable, to prey on our generosity,” Nessel said. 

11:47 a.m.

Students who were hospitalized after last week’s mass shooting are improving, university officials announced Wednesday.

All five had been in critical condition at Sparrow Hospital. Now, one student is in fair condition, three are in serious condition but stable, while one is still in critical condition. 

The identities of two of the students are not known. But three students, Guadalupe Huapilla-Perez, John Hao and Nate Statly have been identified through family or friends on GoFundMe. 

Huapilla-Perez’s spleen was removed and her lungs, colon, stomach and diaphragm were injured in the shooting, her sister wrote on the crowdfunding site Monday. Hao was also shot and paralyzed from the chest down, his roommate said. 

Other updates:

  • Several students told MSU administration they remain concerned about safety, academics and mental health at a town hall Tuesday night. 
  • Classes resumed Monday. Some students told Bridge Michigan they were ready for classes and their professors had adjusted class assignments, but others said it was too soon. 
  • Several hundred students attended a rally at the State Capitol Monday afternoon calling for gun reform. 

Sunday, Feb. 19

5:52 p.m.

Conditions are improving for two of five students hospitalized in Monday’s mass shooting, university officials announced Sunday.

All five had been in critical condition at Sparrow Hospital. Now, one is in fair, while one is in serious but stable condition and three others remain in critical condition.

The university is not naming the students. Two are from China including John Hao, 20, a junior who is paralyzed.  The family of another student, Guadalupe Huapilla-Perez of south Florida, says she needs months of recovery, but the nature of her injuries remains unclear.

A gunman killed three students: Arielle Diamond Anderson, 19, of Harper Woods, Brian Fraser, 20, of Grosse Pointe Park and Alexandria Verner, 20, of Clawson.

Friday, Feb. 17

6:38 p.m.

The Michigan State Student Union will be closed for classes through spring semester, and professors can offer students the option to take classes pass-or-fail, rather than receive letter grades, university officials announced Friday.

The announcement came in an email to faculty from Interim Provost Thomas D. Jeitschko, who also urged professors to offer students flexibility when classes resume Monday following a mass shooting that killed three students on Feb. 13.

"You should feel confident in adjusting syllabus expectations as needed, and you should not try to make up for lost time, or to scramble to catch up," Jeitschko wrote.  "This includes exercising the flexibility to move or drop assignments, and to avoid 'heavy lifts' such as scheduling tests too soon after the return to classes."

University officials are expected to announce more details about Monday's return-to-classes during a media briefing at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Two students who died were shot at Berkey Hall, which is also closed for spring semester, while the other was in the union.

Thursday, Feb. 16

10:56 a.m.

Michigan State University’s Berkey Hall will be closed all spring semester, following a mass shooting on Monday, university officials announced Thursday.

The suspected gunman, Anthony McRae, killed two students, Arielle Diamond Anderson, 19, of Grosse Pointe, and Alexandria Verner, 20, of Clawson, in Room 114 of Berkey Hall before going to the MSU Union and killing Brian Fraser, 20, of Grosse Pointe.

Related:

Speaking at a media briefing on Thursday,  MSU Interim President Teresa Woodruff said officials are still weighing whether to reopen the union, which is closed.

The university is resuming normal business operations, but classes will remain closed until Monday.

The briefing also revealed:

  • The gunman did not speak to officers who confronted him 4 miles away from campus before killing himself. Officers later found journals at his home, as well as two bus tickets. A two-page letter was found in his pocket indicating locations he planned to visit that may hint at a motive. The note also included threats against businesses, including a Meijer distribution warehouse where he once worked in. Police say he may have felt slighted by some of the businesses. 
  • McRae had two 9 mm handguns with him when he was contacted by police, as well as additional magazines and 50 more rounds of ammunition.  
  • The guns were legally purchased but not registered. 
  • Four students remain in critical condition at Sparrow Hospital, but one has been upgraded to stable. Woodruff said she is “pleased that we are seeing some signs of improvement in some of our students.”
  • The guns used in the shootings were different from a handgun he was arrested for illegally carrying in 2019, officials said. That gun is still in the possession of Lansing Police, officials said.

Wednesday, Feb. 15

4 p.m.

While Democrats and Republicans are divided on gun reform, they came together in the Michigan House of Representatives on Wednesday to honor law enforcement, students, staff and medical personnel involved in Monday's fatal mass shooting at Michigan State University.

"Now, more than ever, it is important to recognize the heroism and resolve of those who lead us through tragedy," said House Speaker Joe Tate, D-Detroit, who read from a memorial resolution.

"To those on the police force who worked tirelessly to defend the community they are entrusted to protect, and who bravely entered building after building, classroom after classroom: We see you, and we thank you."

Joined on the House floor by police officers and 911 dispatchers, and with dozens of MSU students looking on from the gallery, Tate also led members in a moment of silence for three students killed in the shooting, which also left five others severely wounded.

He also thanked medical professionals at MSU and Sparrow Hospital, along with staff and students who put themselves in harms way to try and help save lives.

“It should not take a tragedy for us to recognize the best of us,” Tate said, “but we would do a dishonor to their courage if we did not take this opportunity to commend their valiant efforts and express our gratitude on behalf of Michiganders everywhere.”

2:20 p.m.

Students began picking up their belongings from the MSU Student Union this afternoon.

They passed by several news cameras and crossed yellow, do-not-cross tape to enter the building. At the door, someone with an FBI jacket stood. Students could also pet large fluffy dogs.

MSU student Evan DeRicco came to the union to pick up his keys, wallet, shoes, jacket and backpack. He was in the school union when he heard three gunshots. He left the union and hid behind Landon Hall and eventually inside Gilchrist Hall, a student housing center.

He said Monday’s shooting “doesn’t feel real”, but as more time passes, he feels himself getting more jumpy.

Sam Gardner, a junior, walked out of the union around 2 p.m. today after picking up his coat and backpack. He described “feeling numb to the whole thing” but also comforted by his Christian faith.

“It’s a lot to go through for everyone,” he said.

1:15 p.m.

Hundreds of Michigan State University students took to the steps of the Michigan Capitol on Wednesday, calling for change two days after a campus shooting that left three dead and five others critically wounded.

"Which words do I need to say to convince politicians that my life matters more than someone's right to bear arms," asked 20-year-old Katie Sundeen, a third-year student who said she grew up in a world where active shooter drills were a routine part of her schooling.

MSU students at the Capitol

While the Legislature was not in session Wednesday, several Democratic legislators lawmakers joined the students, including Senate Majority Leader Brinks and House Speaker Joe Tate, who have promised swift action on previously proposed gun control legislation.

Related:

But after some of those lawmakers spoke, organizer Maya Manuel asked them to leave the Capitol steps and instead face students who shared their accounts of the Monday night shooting and later sat on the ground to simulate the active shooter drills they grew up performing at school.

"You guys are here and supporting us, but look at the ones who aren't standing right in front of us right now," Manuel said. "Take a look at those legislators and see how much they truly … care."

The campus shooting has sparked debate in Lansing, where Democrats have reiterated their support for red flag gun confiscation laws and universal background checks, while Republicans have urged mental health and school safety reforms.

The campus debate has not been monolithic either. 

Overnight Tuesday, someone repainted "the rock" at MSU with a message arguing students should have more freedom to carry guns on campus as protection. By Wednesday morning, other students were painting over that message.

12:15 p.m.

Five students injured during the mass shooting at Michigan State University remain hospitalized and in critical condition at Sparrow Hospital as of Wednesday morning, hospital and police confirmed. 

Four of the injured individuals required surgery, hospital officials said Tuesday. One, who did not, was taken directly to the critical care unit after being triaged in the emergency room.

Hospital officials and Michigan State University police are not currently naming the five injured students.

Family members of one of the injured students, Guadalupe Huapilla-Perez, identified her as one of the injured victims in a verified GoFundMe that has raised more than $200,000 as of Wednesday afternoon.

Related: Michigan State University school shooting: How to help

Police previously identified the other students who were killed in the mass shooting as as Alexandria Verner, Brian Fraser and Arielle Diamond Anderson.

8:17 a.m.

Michigan State University officials are starting the process of returning personal items to people who left them behind when gunshots drove them from Berkey Hall and the MSU Union. 

Students or representatives of students who were in the Union can meet FBI employees and victim specialists at the west entrance of the Union beginning at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday to retrieve their items.

Faculty and staff who were in or have office space in the MSU Union can arrive at the West entrance beginning at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Related: Michigan State University school shooting: How to help

Students, faculty and staff who were at or have office space in Berkey Hall can report to the East entrance to Berkey Hall at 10 a.m. Thursday.

People are asked to bring a form of identification to the check in, though MSU says it recognizes that IDs may still be inside the building. 

“Please do the best you can,” MSU wrote to students and staff. “No one will be turned away without further assistance.”

The Monday night shooting killed three students and critically injured five others. The suspected gun later killed himself after police confronted him early Tuesday.

Tuesday, Feb. 14

5:20 p.m.

Memorials were taking shape around the Michigan State University campus on Tuesday, as the students and staff who remain on campus planned tributes to the victims of the mass shooting.

The university plans a vigil at 6 p.m. Wednesday on the university’s Rock on Farm Lane to support victims and recognize first-responders, MSU announced.

Related: 

Attendees will include Board of Trustees Chair Rema Vassar, MSU Interim President Teresa Woodruff, Associate Students of Michigan State University President Jo Kovach, Council of Graduate Students President Hannah Jeffery, a university chaplain and other student leaders. 

On Tuesday, the Rock was painted black with the words “How many more? Stay safe MSU” added in red.

MSU rock painted to say "how many more"

Piles of flowers also have been left at the base of the Sparty statue, and more bouquets are found outside of the MSU student union, one of the buildings where the shootings took place.  Still more signs of support are emerging.

flowers placed at michigan state's campus

The University of Michigan also will host a vigil in MSU’s honor, with students and staff meeting at the Diag in Ann Arbor at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

President Santa Ono said many at U-M are reeling from the mass shooting in East Lansing due to family and friend connections at the school. 

Our hearts are broken with the Michigan State University family,” Ono said in a statement.

U-M’s campus was open on Tuesday, but with increased security.

4:30 p.m.

The gunman who killed three students and injured five more on a Monday night rampage at Michigan State University left a threatening note that targeted two New Jersey schools. 

Related: Michigan State victims: Brian Fraser, Alex Verner and Arielle Anderson

The Ewing (NJ) Police Department said Tuesday that Anthony McRae had the note in his pocket as police stopped him around midnight, nearly four hours after the first shots were fired on the East Lansing campus. 

McRae died of a self-inflicted gunshot before police could take him into custody.

Related: Michigan State shooter Anthony McRae had guns charge, run-ins with police

McRae was a former resident of Ewing Township, located north of Trenton, N.J., close to the Pennsylvania border. His mother, Linda McRae, lived in Trenton until 2003, and Anthony McRae still had relatives in the area, according to his mother’s 2020 obituary.

As a result of the note, schools in Ewing were closed for the day, police said, and officers were stationed at the buildings. 

“After further investigation, it has been determined that the incident is isolated to Michigan,” police said in a news release.

As of about 4 p.m. Tuesday, nearly 70 people had visited the East Lansing Hannah Community Center, which offered food, therapy dogs and mental health counselors to support students, staff and community members.

The entry of the building was decorated with green sticky notes that tell visitors they are loved. Janet Lillie, an MSU vice president, told Bridge there were more than 70 local counselors from the area that came to help.

sticky note

The center will be open until 9 p.m Tuesday. People can also visit Wednesday from noon to 5:30 p.m. Lillie told Bridge that mental health professionals will then be at the vigil that is planned for 6 p.m. Wednesday evening.

Noelle Duvall, director of mental health and wellness for Ingham Intermediate School District, was one of many people who came to help at the community center.

Related: Michigan State University shooting 2023: Resources to cope, tips to discuss tragedy

She said mental health professionals are helping people process their feelings. She said people may be experiencing difficulty sleeping or eating, having flashbacks, feeling more irritable or wanting to be more isolated in the next few weeks.

“If you don’t notice that things are reducing, then that would be an indication that you might want to speak to a therapist on a more ongoing basis,” she said

3:13 p.m.

The third victim is Arielle Diamond Anderson, a 2021 grad of Grosse Pointe North, district officials confirmed Tuesday afternoon.

On Monday evening, Anderson’s aunt Chandra Davis, a model and former reality show contestant known as Deelishis, posted on Instagram that Anderson was in her classroom in the same building as the shooter and had not heard from her. 

On Tuesday, friends and family began posting tributes to Anderson on social media. One relative identified as ShayBaby on social media called Anderson an “angel on earth.” 

WXYZ reported Anderson loved children and was studying to be a pediatrician. 

Police earlier identified the other student victims as Alexandria Verner, a junior from Clawson, and Brian Fraser, a Grosse Pointe native who was president of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity at MSU.

The MSU Board of Trustees released a statement at 3 p.m. Tuesday the board talked with families of the victims of the “senseless violence our community is suffering.”

“We are devastated with them and for them,” the statement said. “Please hold space with the entire Spartan community as we navigate the weeks ahead. We will get through this difficult time by healing together.

“Take care of yourselves and one another. Please seek out support in our community if you need it.”

As a reminder, resources for people struggling with grief are available at the Hannah Community Center on Abbot Road in East Lansing, and also on campus:

1:30 p.m. 

People who knew the two identified victims of the MSU mass shooting on Monday night are making public tributes to them as news of their deaths spreads. 

Ted Verner, the father of Alexandria Verner, a junior from Clawson, told the New York Times that his daughter “was murdered last night at the Michigan State campus.”

Vernier also said the family had been “overrun with love and support.”

The 2020 graduate of Clawson High School was “a tremendous student, athlete, leader and exemplified kindness every day of her life!” wrote Billy Shellenbarger, Clawson Public Schools superintendent. 

Phi Delta Theta Fraternity praised sophomore Brian Fraser, who was chapter president at MSU.

“Brian was a great friend to his Phi Delt brothers, the Greek community at Michigan State, and those he interacted with on campus,” according to a Facebook post. “Phi Delta Theta sends its deepest condolences to the Fraser family, the Michigan Beta Chapter, and all those who loved Brian as they mourn their loss.”

12:20 p.m. 

Two of three students killed Monday on Michigan State University campus were from metro Detroit, according to the college’s Department of Police and Public Safety.

The victims were Brian Fraser, a sophomore from Grosse Pointe and Alexandria Verner, a junior from Clawson in Oakland County.

“We cannot begin to fathom the immeasurable amount of pain that our campus community is feeling,” the police said in a statement. “We want to ensure our community that our department as well as our law enforcement partners will conduct a comprehensive and thorough investigation regarding this tragic incident.”

In a statement, Clawson school officials said Verner was a 2020 graduate of Clawson High School who “was and is incredibly loved by everyone. She was a tremendous student, athlete, leader and exemplified kindness every day of her life!”

Online records indicate Fraser was a member of MSU’s Interfraternity Council, representing Phi Delta Theta.

 Five victims remain in the hospital in critical condition, four of whom required surgery. A third victim remains publicly unidentified due to the family’s request, police said. 

“We know this news may be difficult for those within our campus community and beyond,” the agency said. 

Resources for people struggling with grief are available at the Hannah Community Center on Abbot Road in East Lansing, and also on campus:

12:15 p.m. 

Legislation proposing universal background checks, safe storage for firearms and a mechanism for taking a person’s guns away temporarily if they are deemed a danger to themselves or others will be introduced in the Michigan Senate soon, lawmakers said Tuesday.

Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, D-Grand Rapids — whose daughter attends Michigan State University — said that although lawmakers don’t know all the details of the MSU shooting, instances of gun violence are not unique.

Related: ‘We cannot keep living like this:’ Dems vow gun reform after MSU shooting

“It isn’t just about what happened last night,” she at a media event Tuesday. “Whether it’s mass shootings, homicides or suicide, we know there is not one bill or one policy that can make all of that go away overnight. But we do know that there is a culture of violence that we can make a direct impact on. 

Brinks didn’t commit to a timeline on when that legislation would be introduced or taken up on the floor, but said they would be taken up “as soon as possible.” 

11:44 a.m.

Five victims of a mass shooting at Michigan State University on Monday remained in critical condition at Sparrow Hospital on Tuesday morning, according to Dr. Denny Martin, interim president and chief medical officer.

Four of the injured individuals required surgery, he said. One, who did not, was taken directly to the critical care unit after being triaged in the emergency room, Martin said during a press conference this morning. 

Martin thanked everyone in the hospital’s trauma center. This is something that we practice for very often, “but never want to have to do,” he said. 

While thanking members of the emergency department and other specialized medical teams, he broke down holding back tears.

 “Didn’t get a lot of sleep last night, sorry,” he said.

Many health care professionals showed up to help last night, Martin said.

“We received a lot of texts just ‘I’m on my way’, people showing up, ‘where do you need me?’”

10:15 a.m.

Michigan State University has canceled classes until Monday following a mass shooting that killed three and injured five.

Originally students were told that classes would resume on Thursday, but that timeline was extended Tuesday morning as Interim President Teresa Woodruff and the administration work through the needs on campus as it grapples with the hours of lockdown that left three people dead and five hospitalized.

The university is on “modified operations” through Thursday, Woodruff said, with only essential staff on campus.

student packing up car
Jacob Bennett, left, a freshman at MSU, packs up to go home to Grand Rapids with father, Joel Bennett. (Bridge photo by Ron French)

“For those staff who are here to support 17,000 students on campus and 50,000 students across this great university, we thank you,” Woodruff said Tuesday morning during a press briefing.

The time-off extension comes as many students leave East Lansing. Parents started to pick up their children in the early morning hours as the shelter-in-place order was lifted, and they continue to do so. 

Dorms remain open, but dining service is limited through Wednesday, according to the State News. Hours are:

  • Brody Square: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., 4:30 to 9 p.m.
  • The Edge at Akers: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., 4:30 to 9 p.m.
  • The Vista at Shaw: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., 4:30 to 9 p.m.

The City of East Lansing also has closed its offices today, including The East Lansing Public Library, 54B District Court and the city's Department of Public Works.

However, counseling is open to the community in the city’s Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbot Road. 

9:38 a.m.

LANSING — Suspected Michigan State University gunman Anthony Dwayne McRae, 43, was a Lansing resident who had several run-ins with police, court records show.

He was arrested in 2019 for possessing guns without a concealed carry permit, Michigan Department of Corrections spokesperson Chris Gautz told Bridge Michigan on Tuesday.

Court records show McRae was initially charged with a felony in district court but later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor in circuit court. He was put on probation in 2019 and was discharged from it in 2021.

Click for the rest of this story.

Michigan State University Police and Public Safety released photos of a suspect in a shooting on campus on Feb. 13, 2023.
Michigan State University Police and Public Safety released photos of the suspect in a shooting on campus on Feb. 13, 2023.

8:54 a.m. 

LANSING — Police on Tuesday morning identified 43-year-old Anthony Dwayne McRae as the lone suspect in a Monday night shooting at Michigan State University that left three students dead and five others injured.

McRae killed himself late Monday as police encountered him miles from campus after responding to a caller tip, MSU interim deputy police chief Chris Rozman told reporters in a Tuesday morning press conference.

Police recovered a weapon, but are still investigating whether it was the firearm used in the crime, Rozman said.

All five injured students were rushed to the hospital on Monday night and remained in critical condition as of Tuesday morning, said Dr. Denny Martin, interim president and chief medical officer at Sparrow Hospital.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who joined police at MSU on Tuesday morning, said she had spoken about the shooting with President Joe Biden, who "pledges his support and the thoughts of an entire nation."

Whitmer mourned the "loss of beautiful souls" and the injured students who continue to fight for their lives. “As parents, we tell our kids, it’s gonna be OK. We say that all the time. But the truth is, words are not good enough. We must act, and we will.”

7:50 a.m.

EAST LANSING  —Three people were killed and five wounded in a mass shooting on the campus of Michigan State University on Monday evening, as a man with no apparent connection to campus walked into two buildings and began shooting.

Police said the 43-year-old man they believe is responsible for the rampage killed himself when confronted by police about four hours after the assault started at 8:18 p.m.

The names of the victims were not released as of early Tuesday, nor was the identity of the suspect. 

Police said they had no known motive for the shooting that paralyzed the 50,000-student campus, with students, staff and faculty ordered to shelter in place throughout the evening, and frantic parents left to park near campus, beyond police barricades, desperate for news.

Click here to read the rest of this story.

1:40 a.m. 

The suspected gunman in the Michigan State University shootings was a 43-year-old with no university affiliation, MSU Interim Deputy Police Chief Chris Rozman said at an early Tuesday morning media update. 

Rozman said he was unable to offer any further information about the suspected shooter, the weapon or weapons used, or a possible motive. 

In addition to the three people killed, five were injured and Rozman noted that all five were hospitalized in critical condition.  

"Our Spartan hearts are broken," MSU Interim President Teresa Woodruff said at the 1:30 a.m. briefing. "It's something that's quite unimaginable, that has been imagined in other places and other times, but we just can't imagine that it's here. We're destroyed with the loss of life...We cannot allow this to continue to happen." 

12:29 a.m. 

A suspected gunman who killed three at MSU and injured five others is dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, MSU interim deputy chief Chris Rozman said at a news conference shortly before 12:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Rozman said the man killed himself after he was “contacted by law enforcement off campus.” He did not identify the man and said police aren’t aware of any motive or whether he is affiliated with the university.

“This truly has been a nightmare we are living tonight, but we have remained laser focused on the safety of campus,” Rozman told reporters. “We are relieved to no longer have an active threat while realizing there is so much healing that needs to take place.”

Rozman did not identify the victims or say whether they are students. But he said two were killed at Berkey Hall and one killed at a second shooting at the MSU Union. The shootings began about 8:18 at Berkey Hall, prompting a lockdown that lasted for about four hours. Rozman said there were victims at both locations. 

“All that we can confirm at this point is three fatalities at the scene on campus and five victims that were transported,” Rozman said. 

He said there were no known threats that preceded the shootings.

“We have absolutely no information right now on what the motive is and I can’t even begin to imagine what that motive would be. That will obviously be a part of our investigation,” Rozman said. 

Officials said if you have information that may help investigators understand what happened Monday, you can call 844-99-MSUPD or email tips@police.msu.edu.

“Our hearts are with those who are affected by this senseless act of violence,” Rozman said. “As a father, I can only imagine how parents are feeling right now. This will be the beginning of healing.”

11:36 p.m.

Michigan State Police University said in a tweet there are three confirmed fatalities in addition to the five people in the hospital. 

11:12 p.m.

Michigan State University police confirmed there are five victims in two related shootings Monday night on campus, and an active gunman remains on the loose.

Briefing the media shortly after 11 p.m., Chris Rozman, interim deputy police chief, said hundreds of law enforcement officers are on campus and in East Lansing, searching for the shooter. The victims are at Sparrow Hospital, and some have life-threatening injuries, Rozman said.

Rozman stressed several times that the information police have at this time is considered preliminary. The campus remains in lockdown, and all activities on campus are canceled for the next 48 hours, Rozman said. 

The shooting began at 8:18 p.m. at Berkey Hall on the north end of campus off Grand River, which houses the university’s College of Social Science, the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research, Rozman said.

As police responded to that shooting and tended to victims, there was another report of a shooting nearby at the MSU Union, Rozman said. He said police are searching for a short Black male, with red shoes, a jean jacket and a ball cap. Police are expected to release surveillance footage of the shooter soon.

Police expect to brief the media every hour as long as the situation remains, Rozman said.

“You are probably hearing a lot of information and misinformation from social media, the scanner, calls that we are receiving that are not accurate,” he said. “There has been false reports of additional shootings, false reports of additional shootings in numerous locations.”

Rozman did not take any questions from the media.

10:56 p.m.

Sparrow Health spokesperson John Foren said there are five victims that have been transported from MSU to Sparrow Hospital.

Parents of MSU students are filling parking spaces outside of the police perimeter around campus, sitting in their cars and hoping for word that the shooting risk is ending.

Among them was Ken Rosenstangel, who sat in the parking lot of Jonna’s 2 Go party store at Michigan and Grand River avenues. 

Rosenstangel said he talked to his daughter for a moment. She sheltered with her class in the Human Ecology Building, on West Circle Drive, in a bathroom with all of her classmates and their instructor. However, her  phone was losing its charge and they cut the call short — after,  she told her father she was fine.

“It’s ridiculous,” Rosenstangel said. “People pulling this stuff,  and none of it makes sense.”

10:31 p.m.

MSU student Will Kung told Bridge that he was in the IM East gymnasium when someone shouted for everyone to stay in the gym and go onto the basketball court.

“I heard screaming,” he said, while rushing with other students as police escorted them from the IM building to Landon Hall. “There was some commotion. They told us to stay in place. But I didn’t hear any shots.”

Several people were gathered at Landon, including one woman who was described as a witness.

Shortly after 10:30 p.m., police vehicles continue to crowd the edge of campus, including all along Grand River Avenue.

The streets remain mostly empty, besides police. A few parents are trying to reach their children, though parents are being advised in a Facebook group not to go to campus.

michigan state shooting map

10:26 p.m. 

Michigan State University officials will brief the media about the shootings at 11 p.m.,

Michigan State University Police tweeted that victims are being transported to Sparrow Hospital.  MSU Police officials tweeted that all campus activities are canceled for the next 48 hours, including “athletics, classes, and all campus-related activities. “Please DO NOT come to campus tomorrow.”

10:03 p.m.

Michigan State Police tweeted that the suspect is still at large and described him as a “short male, wearing a mask.”  Earlier, they had tweeted that the shooter was on foot and there were multiple injuries. Students are on lockdown on the campus, and The Detroit News reported one death.

9:52 p.m.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer tweeted she has been briefed on the shooting, which The Detroit News reports left one person dead.

 

Michigan State University was responding to an active shooter situation Monday evening, and campus officials instructed students in East Lansing to “secure in place.”

Multiple injuries are reported by police, who tweeted they believe there is one shooter.

Berkey Hall is on the north end of campus off Grand River Avenue and houses the university’s College of Social Science, the Institute for Public Police and Social Research.

Police later said the first shooting was at 8:18 p.m.

Berkey Hall is on the north end of campus off Grand River Avenue,

At 9:26, MSU Police tweeted that "there is another reported shooting at IM East. Police are responding. There are multiple reported injuries." About 10 minutes earlier, the police tweeted that the "suspect is believed to be on foot right now."

Text messages were also sent by the university to students that read "Secure in place immediately. Run, hide, fight." 

Students reported emergency vehicles swarmed campus on Monday.

This is a developing story.

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