Arielle Anderson, the 19-year-old Michigan State University student who was shot and killed while on campus Monday was considered to be “kind, loving, caring, compassionate, driven” and “very family oriented,” her grandmother, April Davis, told Detroit Free Press.
Anderson was one of three students who died during the fatal shooting under the hands of Anthony McRae, a 43-year-old who began his rampage at the university’s Berkey Hall before making his way to the student center where he continued shooting. Five others were wounded in the shooting. Brian Fraser, a 20-year-old sophomore and Alexandria Vernier, a 20-year-old junior were also murdered.
Flavor of Love reality TV star Chandra “Deelishis” Davis, said Anderson was her niece and penned an emotional tribute to her family member who was killed by a man who would eventually die of a self-inflicted gunshot when approached by police.
“This will never feel normal to me… I can’t believe I’m even typing this,” she wrote in an Instagram post. “Rest with God Ari … Our family is broken to pieces and I can’t say how we will get through this but with God’s help I know we will.”
The post continued: “Have you ever met a young person who was simply ‘Pure in Heart’… well that was @ariellediamond_ … simply PURE … she never raised her voice past a whisper or gentle laugh. She was a remarkable student, attending MSU to become a doctor.
Deelishis further added that Anderson was the youngest of three and requested that her followers keep her family uplifted in prayer.
The victim’s aunt also shared her disbelief at what transpired at the University.
“This is so unbelievable,” Kinella Spivey told Detroit Free Press. “When does it stop? Really? I mean, it’s one after the other after the other. This school has been safe for so many years.”
Grosse Pointe Schools superintendent Jon Dean told the publication that the community has been left in grief following the tragic shooting. “It’s just a senseless, unspeakable tragedy that’s impacting the Michigan State community, impacting the Grosse Pointe community and it’s just, it’s horrific,” he said.
