The state of Michigan will pay $15 million to the families of three murdered students
Michigan State University has reached a $15 million settlement with the families of three students killed in a campus shooting in February.
Dan Kelly, a university administrator, announced the settlement Friday during a public board meeting, according to spokeswoman Emily Gerkin Guerrant.
“While no amount of compensation can ever replace the loss of a life, we hope this brings some closure, support and relief to these affected families,” Mr Kelly said in a statement.
“The university extends its deepest condolences to each of the three families,” he said, adding that it remained committed to ensuring that the memories of their children would not be forgotten in the school community.
Mr. Kelly also said that the “university remains committed to improving campus safety and providing mental health care to our community as we continue to heal.”
David Femminineo, a lawyer for one of the families, said his clients would receive $5 million. They plan to use the money to honor their loved one and help other students, he said.
On Feb. 13, a gunman opened fire in Berkey Hall, home of the university’s College of Social Science, shortly before 8:30 p.m., killing two students there, authorities said. The gunman, later identified as Anthony McRae, 43, then moved to the Michigan State Student Union, a popular place for students to eat and study, where he killed a third student. The two buildings, located minutes apart on Grand River Avenue, were unlocked and opened to the public.
Students and members of faculty and staff sheltered at the scene, many in dormitories and other campus buildings, as hundreds of police officers searched for the gunman. After a three-hour manhunt, university police said Mr. McRae was found off campus around 11:30 that evening and that he had died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Authorities identified the three victims as Arielle Diamond Anderson, a sophomore from Harper Woods, Michigan; Brian Fraser, a sophomore from Grosse Pointe, Michigan; and Alexandria Verner, a junior from Clawson, Michigan. Five other students were injured in the attack.
Ven Johnson, attorney for the Anderson and Fraser families, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the settlement on Sunday.
Mr. Femminineo, who represents the Verner family, said in a statement Sunday that “this case was never about blaming Michigan State University for the tragic events” on Feb. 13.
“Instead, the Verner family has been looking for answers on how to prevent this from happening in the future,” Mr Femminineo said.
“With this resolution,” he added, “the Verner family will be able to heal and also promote Alex’s legacy so that Alex can serve as an example for future students moving forward so that they can try to follow the example to reflect that Alex is set in her short but impactful life.”
During the day a press conference On Friday, Ms. Verner’s parents said in Mr. Femminineo’s office that they planned to use their share of the settlement to honor their daughter through initiatives such as a college scholarship.