Case file
2023 Michigan State University shooting
On the evening of February 13, 2023, a shooting occurred in two buildings on the campus of Michigan State University (MSU) in East Lansing, Michigan. The gunman, 43-year-old Anthony Dwayne McRae, arrived on campus by bus and entered Berkey Hall, where he fired into a classroom, fatally wounding students Arielle Diamond Anderson and Alexandria Verner and injuring five other students. He then walked to the MSU Union building, where he shot and killed student Brian Fraser. In total, 18 rounds were fired on campus. McRae had no known affiliation with the university.
Law enforcement from multiple agencies responded, and campuswide shelter-in-place alerts were issued as officers searched for the gunman. Approximately three hours after the shooting began, officers located McRae off campus on Lake Lansing Road in Lansing, where he died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound during the confrontation.
Five students were injured, all initially in critical condition; four required surgery. Victims included Guadalupe Huapilla-Perez, Hanyang Tao, Yukai "John" Hao (who was paralyzed from the chest down), Nate Statly (who suffered severe brain injury), and Troy Forbush. Several victims underwent lengthy recoveries described in subsequent months, including additional surgeries and long-term rehabilitation.
McRae had a prior 2019 arrest for carrying a weapon without a license, which was resolved through a plea to a misdemeanor rather than a felony, allowing him to retain firearm rights after his probation ended in 2021. His father described him as having become increasingly isolated and hostile after his mother's death in 2020. A note found in McRae's possession contained threats against MSU, a former employer, and two New Jersey schools; McRae also made an unverified claim of leading a group involved in the attacks, which police stated was not substantiated.
In the aftermath, MSU canceled classes and relocated instruction from the affected buildings, held vigils, and established the Spartan Strong Fund to support survivors. Students organized protests at the Michigan State Capitol calling for gun control legislation. Michigan officials, including Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel, publicly responded, and Democratic state lawmakers introduced gun-control bills in the following weeks.
In June 2023, families of victims and survivors filed lawsuits against MSU alleging security failures, including inadequate locking mechanisms on classroom doors and lack of an armed security presence. In December 2023, the university settled with the families of the three students killed for $5 million each.
Key facts
- Victims
- Yukai Hao, Alexandria Verner, Nate Statly, Troy Forbush, Arielle Diamond Anderson, Guadalupe Huapilla-Perez, Hanyang Tao, Brian Fraser
- Date
- 2023
- Location
- Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
- Case status
- solved
Case timeline
2023-02-13
Gunman Anthony McRae opens fire in Berkey Hall and the MSU Union building, killing three students and injuring five others.
2023-02-13
McRae is confronted by police off campus on Lake Lansing Road and dies of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
2023-02-15
A vigil at 'The Rock' on MSU's campus draws thousands; students hold a sit-down protest at the Michigan State Capitol calling for gun control.
2023-02-17
Students and supporters hold an 'End Gun Violence' protest at the Michigan State Capitol.
2023-05
Injured student John Hao attends an NBA playoff game as a guest of Philadelphia 76ers player James Harden.
2023-06
MSU announces $300,000 set aside for a permanent memorial; families of victims and survivors begin filing lawsuits against the university.
2023-07
Family of injured student Nate Statly shares details of his ongoing severe brain injury and recovery.
2023-08
Family of injured student Guadalupe Huapilla-Perez shares details of her recovery, including a second surgery.
2023-12
Michigan State University settles lawsuits with families of the three students killed for $5 million each.
Best coverage
No approved coverage links are attached yet.
People
Anthony Dwayne McRae
CHARGEDIdentified as the gunman; died by self-inflicted gunshot wound when confronted by police, so no criminal charges were adjudicated.
Yukai Hao
VICTIMChinese international student injured in the shooting; paralyzed from the chest down.
Alexandria Verner
VICTIMMSU junior killed in the shooting at Berkey Hall.
Nate Statly
VICTIMMSU student injured in the shooting; suffered severe brain injury with long-term impairments.
Troy Forbush
VICTIMMSU music student injured in the shooting; released from hospital February 23, 2023.
Arielle Diamond Anderson
VICTIMMSU junior killed in the shooting at Berkey Hall.
Guadalupe Huapilla-Perez
VICTIMMSU junior injured in the shooting; underwent multiple surgeries during recovery.
Hanyang Tao
VICTIMChinese international student injured in the shooting.
Brian Fraser
VICTIMMSU sophomore and Phi Delta Theta chapter president killed in the shooting at the MSU Union building.
Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.
Archival records
archival location
2023 Michigan State University shooting-1
Credit: Guettarda · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source
archival location
2023 Michigan State University shooting-5
Credit: Guettarda · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source
archival location
2023 Michigan State University shooting-7
Credit: Guettarda · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source
archival location
Flag at half mast after 2023 Michigan State University shooting 3
Credit: Guettarda · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source
archival location
2023 Michigan State University shooting-2
Credit: Guettarda · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source
archival location
2023 Michigan State University shooting-3
Credit: Guettarda · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source
archival location
2023 Michigan State University shooting-10
Credit: Guettarda · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source
archival location
2023 Michigan State University shooting-4
Credit: Guettarda · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source
archival location
2023 Michigan State University shooting-9
Credit: Guettarda · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source
archival location
2023 Michigan State University shooting-6
Credit: Guettarda · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source
Places
Common questions
- What happened to the victim?
- On February 13, 2023, a gunman shot and killed three Michigan State University students and injured five others in two campus buildings before fatally shooting himself when confronted by police hours later.
- Where did the shooting happen?
- Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.
- What is the current status of the case?
- Status: solved. Last verified July 2026.
Related cases
View all cases
Bath School disaster
Bath Township, Michigan, United States
Murder of Jim Pouillon
Owosso High School, Owosso, Michigan
Murder of Dawn Magyar
Chapin, Michigan (body recovery site); abduction occurred in Owosso, Michigan
Uvalde school shooting
Robb Elementary School, Uvalde, Texas, United States
2020 Nova Scotia attacks
Portapique, Nova Scotia, Canada
2022 Highland Park parade shooting
Highland Park, Illinois, United States
Sources
- ENCYCLOPEDIC2023 Michigan State University shootingWikipedia · 2026-07-07
- PRESSContemporaneous coverage — CNNCNN · 2026-07-07
- PRESSContemporaneous coverage — The GuardianThe Guardian · 2026-07-07
Record history
- First published
- JUL 07, 2026
- Last verified against sources
- JUL 07, 2026