MSU shooting victims remembered for their kindness, senses of humor
The three Michigan State University students shot and killed Monday on campus have been identified as Arielle Anderson, Brian Fraser, and Alexandria Verner.
Anderson, a 19-year-old junior from Harper Woods, Michigan, was a straight-A student with impeccable manners, her uncle, Tim Davis, told The Detroit News. "She was just sweet and innocent," he said. "She was soft-spoken, always helpful. In my opinion, she was just perfect the way she conducted herself." In a statement, Anderson's family said she wanted to become a surgeon, and was "working diligently to graduate from Michigan State University early to achieve her goals as quickly as possible."
Fraser, a 20-year-old sophomore from Grosse Pointe, Michigan, played lacrosse and was a swimmer at Grosse Point South High School. On Facebook, the swimming and diving team paid tribute to Fraser, recalling his "infectious smile and sense of humor that could light up the pool deck and bring laughter to the entire team." Fraser served as the chapter president of the Michigan Beta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta, making him a leader in the Greek community. "He was a good kid," his father, Sean Fraser, told The Detroit News. "He was loved by everyone."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Verner, a 20-year-old junior from Clawson, Michigan, played basketball, volleyball, and softball all four years at Clawson High School. "Alex was and is incredibly loved by everyone," Clawson Public Schools Superintendent Billy Shellenbarger wrote in a letter to parents in the district. "She was a tremendous student, athlete, [and] leader, and exemplified kindness every day of her life." At MSU, she was studying integrated biology and anthropology. Her father, Ted Verner, told The Washington Post she was a "beautiful soul," and it's "going to be my mission in life to make sure that families don't go through what we went through."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Why Bhutan hopes tourists will put a smile back on its face
Under The Radar The 'kingdom of happiness' is facing economic problems and unprecedented emigration
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
7 beautiful towns to visit in Switzerland during the holidays
The Week Recommends Find bliss in these charming Swiss locales that blend the traditional with the modern
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
The Week contest: Werewolf bill
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
DOJ demands changes at 'abhorrent' Atlanta jail
Speed Read Georgia's Fulton County Jail subjects inmates to 'unconstitutional' conditions, the 16-month investigation found
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
China tries to bury deadly car attack
Speed Read An SUV drove into a crowd of people in Zhuhai, killing and injuring dozens — but news of the attack has been censored
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Menendez brothers may go free in LA prosecutor plan
Speed Read Prosecutors are asking for the brothers to be resentenced for the 1989 murder of their parents
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Abercrombie ex-CEO charged with sex crimes
Speed Read Mike Jeffries ran the brand during its heyday from 1992 to 2014
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump criminal trial starts with rulings, reminder
Speed Read The first day of his historic trial over hush money payments was mostly focused on jury selection
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Parents of school shooter sentenced to 10-15 years
Speed Read Jennifer and James Crumbley are the first parents to be convicted in a US mass shooting
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Unlicensed dealers and black market guns
Speed Read 68,000 illegally trafficked guns were sold in a five year period, said ATF
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Bankman-Fried gets 25 years for fraud
Speed Read Former "crypto king" Sam Bankman-Fried will report to federal prison
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published