The university gunman who killed three students had threatening note in his pocket, it has emerged.
Investigators are yet to determine the motive behind the deadly mass shooting that cost the lives of three students and injured five more on Monday evening, but details about the gunman's profile have started to surface.
Anthony Dwayne McRae, 43, opened fire at the Michigan State University campus in East Lansing as frightened students hid in classrooms and cars.
The shooting began at an academic building and later moved to the nearby student union, a popular gathering spot for students to eat or study.
He then run off miles away from the university campus until police located and approached him. When confronted by officers, McRae shot and killed himself. His death was announced four hours after the first shot was reported.
He was neither a student nor an employee at the university and had no affiliation with it whatsoever, authorities said.
But authorities found a note in the shooter's pocket threatening two public schools, while he had also pleaded guilty to a firearm charge in 2019.
The Ewing Police Department said it was notified by the New Jersey State Police as the incident could be connected to Ewing and the shooter had ties to the township.
Ewing public schools were closed Tuesday as a precaution and officers were stationed at each closed school and others in the township.
The investigation also revealed that McRae had a history of mental health issues, according to the police.
Later, the incident was determined to be isolated to Michigan and Ewing police said there is no threat to Ewing schools, allowing students to attend their school schedule as normal from Wednesday.
In 2019, McRae was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon without a permit and later pleaded guilty to possessing a loaded firearm, receiving a misdemeanour charge and 18 months of probation.
A police officer discovered the firearm during a pat-down after approaching McRae at an abandoned building around 2 a.m.
McRae claimed he carried the gun for protection and was attempting to obtain a permit.
Initially arguing lack of probable cause, McRae eventually pleaded guilty and forfeited the gun, receiving an extended probation period before discharge in May 2021.
The gunman's sister, Melinda McRae, expressed shock and confusion regarding her brother's motivation for the shooting.
She told CNN that he had been socially isolated and had difficulty getting along with their parents, although they grew up in a loving household.
He had been living alone in a room in their father's home and had a history of leaving town and struggling to keep a job, according to his sister.
Ms McRae also said her brother had a strained relationship with their mother but was deeply upset after her death in 2020.
She said she last saw her brother at their mother's funeral and expressed sympathy for the victims of the shooting.
One of the victims killed in the incident was identified as Alexandria Verner, a graduate student.
The older brother of Anthony McRae expressed shock and confusion over the shooter's motives.
Michael McRae, aged 45, told the Detroit Free Press a day after the shooting that he had no idea what could have triggered his brother's shooting spree.
He explained that he and his brother had grown apart over the years and did not have a close relationship.
Michael McRae, who resides in Delaware, said that the last time he spoke to his brother was at their mother's funeral in Lansing two years ago, and the conversation was not pleasant.
He further added that his brother had no children, spouse, or close friends. Anthony McRae worked at various warehouse jobs in Lansing and tended to keep to himself.
Michael McRae said he received news of the incident from his father on the following day.
Although the brothers had a tumultuous relationship, he said he would have never thought his brother was capable of such a violent act.
Michael McRae expressed deep sorrow over the incident and stated that he plans to travel to Lansing to be with his father at this time.
Anthony McRae was described by his father, Michael McRae, as a "mama's boy" who became bitter, isolated, and "evil angry" after his mother died from a stroke.
He told CNN that his son's mood changed after his mother's death, and he became increasingly bitter and angry, leading to a reclusive lifestyle where he would only leave his bedroom to use the kitchen or bathroom.
Michael McRae attempted to get his son help, suggesting that he see a doctor, but his son refused.
The father also said that his son had previously owned a gun, which the police had taken away, and believed that he had obtained another gun which he kept in his bedroom.
He described his son as a "bad apple" who was a good kid before his wife's death, but after her death, he was "totally lost."
“This truly has been a nightmare we’re living tonight,” said Chris Rozman, interim deputy chief of the campus police department at the time of the incident.
Dominik Molotky said he was learning about Cuban history around 8.15pm when he and the other students heard a gunshot outside the classroom.
He told ABC’s “Good Morning America" that a few seconds later, the gunman entered and fired three to four more rounds while the students took cover.
“I was ducking and covering, and the same with the rest of the students. He let off four more rounds and when it went silent for about 30 seconds to a minute, two of my classmates started breaking open a window, and that took about 30 seconds to happen. There was glass everywhere,” Mr Molotky said.
“After that, we broke out the window and I climbed out of there, and then I booked it back to my apartment,” he said. He was unsure whether gunfire hit any of the students.
Ryan Kunkel, 22, was attending a class in the Engineering Building when he became aware of the shooting from a university email. Kunkel and about 13 other students turned off the lights and acted like there “was a shooter right outside the door,” he said.
“Nothing came out of anyone’s mouth” for over four hours, he said.
“I wasn’t ready to accept that this is really going on next door,” Mr Kunkel said. “This is supposed to be a place where I’m coming, learning and bettering myself. And instead, students are getting hurt.”
The shooting is the latest in what has become a deadly new year in the US. Dozens of people have died in mass shootings so far in 2023, most notably in California, where 11 people were killed as they welcomed the Lunar New Year at a dance hall popular with older Asian Americans.
In 2022, there were more than 600 mass shootings in the US in which at least four people were killed or wounded, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
“This is a uniquely American problem,” Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer lamented.
Mr Rozman, of the campus police, said two people were killed at Berkey Hall and another was killed at the MSU Union, while five people were in critical condition at Sparrow Hospital.
Police eventually confronted the shooter, who then died by a “self-inflicted gunshot wound,” Mr Rozman said.
“We have no idea why he came to campus to do this tonight. That is part of our ongoing investigation,” the deputy chief said.
Ted Zimbo said he was walking to his dorm when he encountered a woman with a “ton of blood on her.”
“She told me, ‘Someone came in our classroom and started shooting,’” Mr Zimbo told The Associated Press. “Her hands were completely covered in blood. It was on her pants and her shoes. She said, ‘It’s my friend’s blood.’”
Mr Zimbo said the woman left to find a friend’s car while he returned to his SUV and threw a blanket over himself to hide for three hours.
Michigan State has about 50,000 students, including 19,000 who live on campus. All classes, sports and other activities were cancelled for 48 hours.
Interim university President Teresa Woodruff said it would be a time “to think and grieve and come together.”
“This Spartan community — this family — will come back together,” Ms Woodruff said.
