World News | Funeral held for victims of Michigan school attack

Grosse Pointe Farms (United States), Feb. 18 (AP) — The first funeral was held Saturday for students killed in a mass shooting at Michigan State University.

Mourners in the Detroit suburb of Grosse Pointe Farms poured into St. Paul’s Lakeside Catholic Church for 20-year-old sophomore Brian Fraser, one of three students killed in Monday’s attack.

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“He was one of those young men with great charm, a smile, a good sense of humor, a good temper, and it was hard not to like it,” said Father Jim Bilot, who served with Fraser. “Glory to God, because he respects the gift that’s been given to him. He’s very athletic, very competitive. I hear he’s not always great at his sport, but sure loves being part of a team.”

Meanwhile, a funeral was held for 20-year-old teenager Alexander Werner at the Guardian Angel Catholic Church in Clausen, a suburb a few miles (km) northwest.

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During that service, Verner’s family placed a small wooden cross bearing her name on the church’s memorial wall.

They were among eight students shot dead in the attack on two buildings on the Michigan State University campus in East Lansing, five of whom were injured but survived. A memorial service will be held later Saturday for the third student killed, Arielle Anderson, the Detroit News reported. Her funeral is scheduled for next week.

Four injured students were in critical condition at a hospital in Lansing on Friday. The fifth victim remains in hospital in a stable condition.

Anthony McRae, a 43-year-old man not associated with the school, walked into Berkey Hall, where night classes were taking place, and opened fire in a classroom, police said. He then walked to the nearby MSU student union and fired more shots before fleeing.

He walked several miles (kilometers) toward his home in Lansing after the attack. He said nothing before committing suicide after confronting police, authorities said.

Detectives recovered two pistols, ammunition and a note with a possible motive for the attack. From the note, McRae felt he had been belittled in some way personally or by a business, police said, adding that he had no affiliation with the victim or the school.

Fraser previously attended Grosse Point South High School. He is president of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity Chapter in Michigan.

Verner is a 2020 graduate of Clausen High School. According to her LinkedIn profile, she is studying integrative biology and anthropology.

Anderson is a graduate of Grosse Pointe North High School. Her family said in a statement that she is working towards graduating from Michigan State University and hopes to become a surgeon as soon as possible. (Associated Press)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)