Anthony McRae Identified As Suspected Gunman In Michigan State Shooting That Killed 3 And Injured 5 Others

After the shooting on the university’s campus, local police alerted faculty and students to lock up and remain indoors for safety as they searched for McRae. Police shared they found his body several hours later, not far from MSU, and the cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The story continues to develop as police learn more about the 43-year-old. McRae was a former convicted felon who had gotten in trouble with the law before for carrying a firearm in 2019. According to the Detroit Free Press, at the time, he was stopped by a police officer while walking near an empty building. Chris Gautz, a Michigan Department of Corrections representative, provided more information regarding what happened that year.

“On June 7, 2019, an officer spotted an individual near an abandoned building on East Street in Lansing around 1:30 a.m. The officer questioned McRae, who said he had just left a store,” Gautz said in the report by the Free Press.

“When asked, he admitted he had a gun on him and did not have a concealed weapons permit. He claimed he left home to walk to a store (to) buy cigarettes and feared for his safety so he took his gun.”

He was arrested and charged with possessing a loaded firearm, a felony. The Detroit News reports in October 2019, McRae was charged with a misdemeanor: possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle. He was sentenced to 12 months in state prison in November 2019 after being convicted of the misdemeanor charge, while the earlier felony charge was dismissed. After six additional months were added to his probation, he was released from supervision in May 2021. After serving his sentence, he moved in with his dad, Michael McRae, who owns a home in northern Lansing, Michigan.

According to The Detroit News, Megan and Tyler Bender, neighbors of the McRaes, disclosed that the father was known in the neighborhood as a man who always keeps to himself and never bothers anyone.

“He’s never done any harm to anyone. … He’s just an old man, minds his business,” Megan told The News.

In addition, Megan shared a time when local police were called due to the son practicing his shooting outside at the back of the house. Although the gunshots weren’t targeted at anyone or any place in particular, authorities wanted to ensure the community’s safety.

Due to the location of McRae’s body, the Benders believe he was trying to make it home because he wasn’t too far from their street.

Another neighbor who lives on the same street and has seen McRae walking and riding a bike through the neighborhood said she was surprised when patrol cars drove down the block because the area usually isn’t noisy, The Detroit News reported.

“It really catches you off guard when it’s close to home like this,” Suzanne Shook told the media outlet.

An investigation is underway to find the reason behind the deadly shooting.