Families Of MSU Students Killed In Shooting Settle With School: Lawyer

EAST LANSING, MI — Three families whose children were killed in the Michigan State University shooting settled Friday with the university for $15 million, according to Detroit Attorney Ven Johnson.

Although the university's Board of Trustees did not release the amounts of the settlements, Johnson said each family will receive $5 million. Brian Fraser, Arielle Anderson and Alexandria Verner were killed in the shooting. All three students grew up in metro Detroit.

"Although no amount of money can ever mend the shattered hearts of these parents after suffering the unspeakable loss of their children, we appreciate how MSU has done the right thing under these horrible circumstances," Johnson said. "Our clients remain steadfast in their call for ongoing reform to the safety measures utilized in MSU’s buildings, public buildings across Michigan and throughout the country."

Attorney David Femminineo, who represents Alexandria Verner's family, said the case was "never about blaming Michigan State University" for the shooting.

"The Verner family did not seek to blame MSU for the death of their daughter," Femminineo said in a statement. "Instead, the Verner family has sought answers as to how this could be prevented in the future."

Femminineo also said the family plans to honor their daughter's legacy through various initiatives, including scholarships for college-bound students from their hometown of Clawson.

Police said on Feb. 13, Anthony McRae, 43, opened fire at inside the university's Berkey Hall and the Student Union, killing three students and wounding five others. All five students who were wounded in the shooting have been released from the hospital.

Officers found McRae dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound roughly four miles from campus, where he had opened fire 3 hours and 31 minutes earlier, police said.

Although police found a two-page handwritten note, in which McRae described himself as a loner and outcast, police still could not determine a "conclusive motive" for the shooting. He had no connection to the victims or the university, investigators said.

The university closed Berkey Hall and the Student Union for the rest of the semester. The college has since changed access rules for buildings between 6 p.m. and 7:30 a.m.