Michigan State University Approves $15 Million Settlement with Families of Campus Shooting Victims

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State University’s board of trustees has unanimously approved a $15 million settlement with the families of three students who tragically lost their lives during a mass shooting on campus earlier this year. The university made this announcement on Friday, following the successful negotiation of agreements with the families of sophomores Arielle Anderson and Brian Fraser, as well as junior Alexandria Verner. While the terms of the settlement remain undisclosed, the families’ attorneys have confirmed the agreement.

Renowned attorney Ven Johnson, representing the Anderson and Fraser families, revealed that the university has agreed to pay a combined $15 million to the families. Each family will receive $5 million, as confirmed by Johnson. During Friday’s board meeting, Trustee Dan Kelly expressed his condolences and stated, “While no amount of compensation can ever replace the loss of a life, we do hope this brings some closure, support, and relief to these impacted families. The university gives its deepest condolences to each of the three families, and we are committed to ensuring the memory of their child is not forgotten in the Spartan community.”

The tragic incident occurred on February 13 when a gunman opened fire at Berkey Hall and the MSU Union, both popular places for studying and dining on campus. In addition to the devastating loss of Anderson, Fraser, and Verner, the attack also left five other students wounded. The shooter, identified as 43-year-old Anthony Dwayne McRae, had a history of mental health struggles and had previously been on probation for a gun violation. McRae was eventually confronted by police and shot dead miles away from campus. Authorities have confirmed that McRae had no connection to the university or the victims. In April, investigators announced that they had found no conclusive motive for the mass shooting.

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Settlement to Preserve Alexandria Verner’s Legacy

David Femminineo, the attorney representing the Verner family, announced the settlement on Friday. He emphasized that the agreement will enable the family to expand Alexandria’s scholarship fund and ensure her legacy lives on. Femminineo stated on social media, “The Verner Family will make it their life’s work to make sure that the legacy of Alex Verner will never be forgotten and that her legacy will act as a lightning rod for change to prevent this from ever happening again.”

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In a subsequent news release, Femminineo clarified that the Verner family did not hold MSU responsible for their daughter’s death. Instead, they sought answers to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Court Filing Cites ‘Dangerous’ Conditions on MSU Campus

In an earlier court filing that could have resulted in litigation against MSU, Femminineo highlighted several factors that contributed to “dangerous or defective” conditions on the campus. According to the filing, Berkey Hall and the MSU Union lacked armed security, metal detectors, and security stations to check for weapons. Additionally, emergency alerts regarding the shooting were delayed or inefficient, and access to buildings was not adequately secured.

Following the incident, several survivors of the shooting filed notices of intent to sue MSU. Trustee Kelly affirmed the university’s commitment to enhancing campus safety and providing mental health support to the community as part of the ongoing healing process.

Contributing: Sheldon Krause, Lansing State Journal; The Associated Press

Contact Sarah Atwood at satwood@lsj.com, or follow her on X (formerly Twitter) @sarahmatwood

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Michigan State reaches $15M settlement with campus shooting victims