What to Know
- Police say the gunman who killed himself hours after shooting and killing three students at Michigan State University was 43-year-old Anthony McRae.
- Police also say five people who are in critical condition Tuesday are also college students.
- McRae had a note on him that indicated threats toward schools in Ewing Township, New Jersey, police say.
The shooter who killed at least three people and injured at least five others at Michigan State University had a note in his pocket threatening two New Jersey public schools in an area where he previously lived, police said.
The Ewing Township, New Jersey, school district closed all schools Tuesday morning out of "an abundance of caution," the district announced.
Then at 10 a.m., Ewing Township Schools Superintendent Dr. David Gentile and Ewing police both announced that there was a connection between the deadly shooting rampage at Michigan State in East Lansing, Michigan, and the Mercer County, New Jersey, schools.
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"Information received during the investigation indicated that the shooter (Anthony McRae, age 43) had local ties to Ewing Township," Gentile wrote in a message similar to that posted by police. "When McRae was found by police in Michigan, he had a note in his pocket that indicated a threat to two Ewing Public Schools."
"The shooter identified specific threats to the Ewing public schools," Ewing Police Chief Al Rhodes later said. "It was a threat of violence" toward Ewing High School and Fisher Middle School.
The shooter -- who once lived in the Ewing area and went to some of the district schools -- had a history of mental health issues and all Ewing schools were closed as a precautionary measure as police were stationed at each school, Gentile and police said.
"After further investigation, it has been determined that the incident is isolated to Michigan, and there is no threat to Ewing Schools," police said. "Information received during our investigation indicated that McRae has not resided in the Ewing area in several years."
Police later said that the Michigan State gunman -- whose parents are from the Trenton area -- hadn't lived in the Ewing area in the past six to seven years.
The Michigan State rampage ended when McRae took his own life, police in Michigan said.
Gentile thanks Ewing police and other law enforcement agencies for the "rapid and thorough response."
"Our hearts go out to the victims in Michigan," Gentile wrote. "The safety of our students and staff remains our top priority. We will continue to cooperate and partner with the Ewing Police Department in the wake of this incident."
"No threat to the Ewing community existed," Rhodes said.
Ewing schools plan to reopen as normal on Feb. 15, 2023.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.
