Students react to Michigan State University school shooting

Albany State University students express their feelings on the deadly shooting at MSU

ALBANY, GA– On February 13, a shooter opened fire on two buildings on the Michigan State University campus leaving three students dead and five others gravely injured.

The shooter’s first target was Berkey Hall, which houses the university’s College of Social Science, just before 8:30 p.m., killing two people. Shortly after, while students were eating and studying in the MSU Student Union, the gunman took his third victim.

The three victims were later identified as Arielle Anderson (junior), Brian Fraser (sophomore) and Alexandria Verner (junior).

The university issued an email alerting students, many of whom were in dormitories, libraries, and other campus facilities, to shelter in place or evacuate as officials searched for the shooter.  The gunman died from a self- inflicted gunshot wound off campus at approximately 11:30 p.m. after a three-hour manhunt.

South Georgia Television News visited Albany State University’s campus to get their thoughts on this unfortunate situation.

“I’m sick of seeing stuff like that I’m not going to lie to you. You know those students came to school to learn and graduate and move on with their lives and its really sad too hear about it” says junior ram, Edmonte Small.

Small also says the MSU shooting reminds him just how easily it could happen to him, right here, in Albany.

“I can say scared, because you know if you really think about it you never know what’s going to happen..you never know what’s going to go down and you don’t even know if you are safe or not.”

On the contrary, Jalen, a freshman at Albany State says he refuses to allow harmful people to strip him of living is life.

“If you’re like living in fear all the time then you’re not really living, you know? Like if you’re just going to barricade yourself up there’s no point in living.”

According to Educatoin Weekly there were 51 school shootings in 2022 and 12 university shootings since 1966.

February 13th marked exactly three months since the most recent University shooting at the University of Virginia. Where three football players were killed after a shooter open fired on a bus.

When asking the two students what changes they believe should be made, they responded:

“Honestly, there’s only so much you can really do. I honestly think a background check would be necessary at the bare minimum… someone should at least  be able to say I’m mentally stable and I will purchase this fire arm for self defense… at least have something securing they won’t go out and kill everyone” Jalen said.

However, Edmonte Small says “change the laws.. make it 21 and older, the gun should be clean and you should have to carry a license.”