MSU mass shooting: Suspect's handguns were legally purchased
Three students were killed and five others were injured in Monday's shooting.
Three students were killed and five others were injured when a gunman opened fire at two locations on Michigan State University's main campus in East Lansing on Monday night, police said.
After an hourslong manhunt, police found the suspect -- identified as 43-year-old Anthony McRae -- dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound off campus.
Four of the injured students were in critical condition and one was in stable condition on Thursday, officials said.
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Suspect had 2 guns, numerous magazines
The suspected shooter, 43-year-old Anthony Dwayne McRae, lived in Lansing, officials said.
The shooter died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound as law enforcement was approaching, a law enforcement source briefed on the situation said.
The source added that a firearm was recovered at the scene, and a second firearm was found in a backpack along with numerous magazines.
McRae served 18 months in prison between 2019 and 2021 on a weapons charge for having a loaded weapon in his vehicle, according to Michigan’s Department of Corrections.
-ABC News’ Lucien Bruggeman, Luke Barr and Josh Margolin
Shock, fear, confusion at Michigan State
At Michigan State, students and staff are overcome with shock, fear and confusion, Lansing Mayor Andy Schor told ABC News’ “GMA3.”
“It's a terrible time. No mayor, no governor, no elected official ever wants to be up all night or wake up to a situation like this,” he said.
Schor said mental health resources are available.
Schor said the five injured students “are critical but stable.”
“It’s touch and go,” he said. “and the doctors are doing their best to work as aggressively as possible.”
Suspect had note indicating threat to NJ schools
When the suspect, 43-year-old Anthony McRae, was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, authorities said there was a note in his pocket indicating a threat to two public schools in Ewing, New Jersey, according to Ewing police.
McRae had local ties to Ewing but hasn’t lived in the area in several years, police said.
Ewing Public Schools are closed on Tuesday out of an abundance of caution, police said. However, no threat has been found and schools are expected to reopen on Wednesday, police said.
McRae “had a history of mental health issues,” police added.
No motive known
No motive is known, police said. The 43-year-old suspect, Anthony McRae, had no affiliation with MSU, university officials said.
After police released the suspect’s photo, a tip from a caller led authorities to finding him, officials said.
When he was confronted, he took his own life," Lansing Mayor Andy Schor told ABC News’ “GMA3.”
A search warrant has been executed at a home, police said.
Thousands gather on campus for memorial vigil
Thousands of mourners gathered at Michigan State University's campus Wednesday night to pay their respects to the students who were shot Monday.
School president Teresa K. Woodruff spoke at the event, which included poems, songs and reflections from students and elected officials including Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
"We remember and honor the three Spartan students so cruelly taken from their families, friends and us," she said.
"Each came to join the very special, this extraordinary campus."
Whitmer, a Michigan State alum, spoke about the courageous efforts that students and teachers did to help the wounded. She said she spoke to one of the hospitalized victims who told her that a fellow student took off their shirt and used it to put pressure on his wound and save his life.
"Countless Spartans were heroes," the governor said.
Michigan State head basketball coach Tom Izzo said he also visited the hospital where some of the wounded were recuperating and called on the community to keep those victims in their thoughts.
He also urged the campus community to take comfort in their friends and family as they process the violence.
"We all process trauma in a very different way, I'm just glad we're all here tonight," he said.