Who were Alexandria Verner and Brian Fraser? Two of three Michigan State mass shooting victims identified
EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN: Two of the three students of Michigan State University who were shot dead on campus has been identified on Tuesday, February 14, as Alexandria "Alex" Verner and Brian Fraser. Clawson Public Schools' statement confirmed the shooting death of Verner. The third victim has not been identified as of Tuesday afternoon, February 14.
Three students were killed in the shooting incident on Monday, February 13 at 8.18 pm after shooter Anthony Dwayne McRae opened fire at the university. Five others were also critically wounded in the attack. Following the incident, the gunman who was caught by cops in an industrial area, around five miles away from the campus, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, reported the Daily Mail.
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Who were Alexandria Verner and Brian Fraser?
Alexandria Verner was a student at Michigan State University where the tragic shooting incident took place. Born to her parents, Ted and Nancy, she had a sister Charlotte and a brother TJ. Verner studied at Clawson High School where she graduated in 2020. The school described her as "a tremendous student, athlete, [and] leader" who "exemplified kindness."
“If you knew [Alex], you loved her and we will forever remember the lasting impact she has had on all of us,” the statement added.
BREAKING: Clawson Public Schools has identified 1 of the 3 MSU students shot and killed last night on campus as CHS 2020 graduate Alexandria Verner.
— Ruta Ulcinaite FOX17 (@RutaUlcinaite) February 14, 2023
Statement from school attached. CHS is my alma mater. MSU is my alma mater too. I’m absolutely gutted. pic.twitter.com/F9ICuDudCR
At Michigan State University, Verner who was set to graduate in 2024, did her studies in integrated biology and anthropology, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Brian Fraser was also a student at MSU. The 20-year-old graduated from Grosse Pointe South. According to the university's police department, Fraser was identified as another on-campus shooting victim.
Fraser was also the chapter president of the Michigan Beta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta at MSU. According to the fraternity's official statement, as a leader, he was a "great friend to his Phil Delt brothers, the Greek community at Michigan State, and those he interacted with on campus."
Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity was devastated to learn that Brian Fraser, chapter president of the Michigan Beta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta at Michigan State University, tragically lost his life on the evening of February 13.
— Phi Delta Theta (@phidelt) February 14, 2023
Full release - https://t.co/DkEZWc4q2h pic.twitter.com/anebeYNB08
What was Anthony Dwayne McRae's motive behind the massacre?
McRae, the 43-year-old man who opened fire at the university on Monday allegedly had no connection with MSU. “We have absolutely no idea what the motive was. This is still fluid. There are still crime scenes that are being processed, and we still are in the process of putting together the pieces to try to understand what happened,” said MSU Interim Deputy Police Chief Chris Rozman, according to CNN.
A snapshot of the shooter McRae was released by the Michigan police department shortly after the shooting. He was then later identified by a Lansing area citizen. “That was exactly what we were trying to achieve by releasing that picture. We had no idea where he was [from] at that point,” Rozman said. McRae who was from Lansing lived with his father and in 2022, his mother died.
