New York Daily News

Note in shooter’s pocket made threat against schools in N.J.

- Jessica Schladebec­k

Anthony McRae, the man suspected of shooting eight students at Michigan State University Monday night, had a note in his pocket threatenin­g two schools in New Jersey, police said.

All public schools across Ewing Township were closed Tuesday out of an of “an abundance of caution.” The decision came after local authoritie­s were alerted about “a mass shooting incident” which “had a possible connection to Ewing,,” according to the local police department.

Three students were killed and five more were wounded during a violent rampage at Michigan State University. Cops said McRae opened fire in an academic building and then the student union. He managed to evade authoritie­s for hours, until a tipster recognized him from a photo released by law enforcemen­t and reported him just before midnight.

Police confronted McRae about 5 miles from campus in an industrial area, where he killed himself, according to Chris Rozman, the interim deputy chief of campus police.

Tucked inside his pocket was a note indicating a potential threat for two schools in Ewing.

“After further investigat­ion, it has been determined the incident is isolated to Michigan, and that there is no threat to Ewing schools,” cops said. “Informatio­n received during our investigat­ion indicated that McRae has not lived in the Ewing area for several years.”

Authoritie­s also noted the 43-year-old had a history of mental health issues.

In nearby Trenton, police said officers would be posted at schools throughout the day.

“The Trenton Police Department’s director learned that the alleged threat is not specific to schools in our district; however, additional officers will be patrolling schools throughout the day,” cops said.

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