Two Chinese students were among the victims of a mass shooting at Michigan State University on Monday night, the Chinese embassy in the US confirmed on Tuesday..
The embassy identified the victims as Kaiyun He, a junior from China’s Fujian Province, and Jia Ren, a sophomore from China’s Henan Province. It expressed deep condolences to the families of the victims and said it was working with the US authorities to provide necessary assistance..
According to the embassy, He was pursuing a degree in hospitality business while Ren was majoring in accounting. Both were reportedly outstanding students who were actively involved in campus activities..
The shooting occurred at two locations on the Michigan State University campus in East Lansing, Michigan. A gunman opened fire at Berkey Hall, an academic building, and then moved to the nearby Union building. Three people were killed and five others were injured in the attack..
The suspect, identified as 43-year-old Anthony McRae, was later found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He had no known connection to the university and his motive for the shooting remains unknown..
The incident has shocked the Michigan State University community and the broader Chinese community in the US. Many have expressed their condolences and support for the victims’ families and friends..
The Chinese embassy in the US has urged Chinese students to pay attention to their safety and to take necessary precautions. It also advised students to stay informed about the latest developments and to follow the instructions of local authorities..
The embassy said it would continue to monitor the situation and provide any necessary assistance to Chinese students affected by the shooting..
In the wake of the tragedy, there have been calls for stricter gun control measures in the US. Many have pointed out that mass shootings have become all too common in the country and that more needs to be done to prevent such incidents from happening again..
The Michigan State University shooting is the latest in a series of mass shootings that have occurred in the US in recent years. In 2022, there were over 600 mass shootings in the country, according to the Gun Violence Archive..
The easy availability of guns in the US has been cited as a major contributing factor to the high rate of gun violence. Many advocates for gun control argue that stricter laws are needed to make it more difficult for people to obtain guns, especially those who may be dangerous or unstable..
The debate over gun control is likely to continue in the wake of the Michigan State University shooting. It remains to be seen whether the tragedy will lead to any meaningful changes in US gun laws..
