EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State University public safety officials say all eight victims of Monday's mass shooting on campus were students and they've identified the suspected gunman as a 43-year-old Lansing man.
Chris Rozman, the interim chief of the MSU Public Safety Department, said two students were fatally shot at Berkey Hall while the third victim was at the campus Union. The five wounded remain in critical condition at Sparrow Hospital.
The suspected gunman's name is Anthony McRae. Criminal records show McRae, who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, had a previous conviction of up to 18 months in state prison in November 2019 after being convicted of possessing a loaded firearm in a vehicle. He was released from supervision in May 2021.
Rozman said police are still trying to determine a motive.
"That's what we're trying to understand ― is why this incident occurred," said Rozman.
MSU police released photos of the suspect Monday evening, and shortly after, someone called police to report they had seen the man in Lansing, Rozman said. Police confronted the man, and he shot himself. Police recovered one weapon from his body, but would not confirm if search warrants on his residence turned up anything.
At an emotional press conference Tuesday morning were many wiped away tears, MSU Interim President Teresa Woodruff said the Spartan community is grieving.
"Together, we will come back more resilient than ever," Woodruff said, "and more ready to face what is needed in this society which is the courage of all of us to ensure this never happens again."
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