Local Michigan State students relive barricading from gunman

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — In the wake of the tragic mass shooting at Michigan State University, two students from Massachusetts said campus will never feel the same.

Police said a gunman opened fire around 8:15 p.m. Monday, killing three and critically injuring five.

The suspect, 43-year-old Anthony McCrae, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after an extensive manhunt. Police said a motive is unclear.

Aidan Emmerich, a freshman at the school on the golf team, said he got a call from his cousin saying an active shooter was on the loose. He was in the team facility at the time.

“I didn’t think it was as serious as it was at first to be totally honest,” said Emmerich. “But then we started getting emails, our coach called, and it got serious pretty quick.”

Emmerich and his roommate barricaded themselves in the team locker room for hours.

He added, “We kind of barricaded the door until 1 a.m. It got a little scary at one point because we could hear shots and sirens.”

Connor Correnti, a friend of Emmerich’s, was barricaded in his dorm.

“We ended up barricading our door with a dresser,” said Correnti. “I just remember sitting in the room waiting. I’m scrolling through twitter and my email and stuff waiting for a text that this guy has finally been captured.”

He added, “I was texting my dad, my brother, and my mom was asleep so I can only imagine what she woke up to.”

Both Emmerich and Correnti may leave campus temporarily, and say East Lansing is emptying out.

Emmerich finished, “I think some people are going to maybe second guess their option if they want to come here or not. It’s just going to be very weird and take a lot of time.”

Police said the suspect had two guns and numerous high-capacity magazines.