MSU shooting suspect citing Meijer distribution center in note shocks union leader
The leader of a union that represents workers at a facility referenced in a note possibly pointing to the motive behind the mass shooting at Michigan State University said the accused shooter had no record of glaring issues on the job.
That makes the fact Anthony McRae mentioned the Meijer Wholesale Distribution Center in Delta Township in a two-page letter police found on his body after the shooting even more shocking, said John Cakmakci, president of the United Food & Commercial Workers union, Local 951.
"I don't know that he had a beef with anybody, I mean as far as maybe getting slighted for a promotion, or things like that ... we never really engaged him in anything. He never filed a grievance or came to a union meeting or anything like that," said Cakmacki, president for the union that represents workers at Meijer, Kroger and many other comparable stores in the region.
"It was eerie. It was scary, it was all of that, odd."
More:Professor who faced Michigan State gunman speaks out
More:MSU shooting suspect had 2 handguns, extra ammo on him, police say
McRae is accused of killing three students and wounding five others Monday night in a shooting spree that covered two campus buildings and caused hours of terror at the 50,000-student university. After receiving a tip, police found McRae walking miles from campus. When approached, he fatally shot himself, police said.
In addition to recovering two 9mm handguns, magazines and 50 rounds of ammunition from McRae, law enforcement found two pages of notes in his wallet. While police have yet to confirm a definitive motive for the attack, the note apparently mentioned several businesses where "he'd had some issues with employees there," Michigan State Police Lt. Rene Gonzalez said during a news conference on Thursday.
"It appears, based on the content of the note, that he felt slighted in some way by people or businesses," said Michigan State University Interim Deputy Police Chief Chris Rozman during the same news conference.
The Meijer Distribution Center, a facility owned by the Grand Rapids-based retail giant located a few miles southwest of downtown Lansing, was among the businesses listed, Gonzalez confirmed.
"I can confirm that he did have Meijer distribution listed in his note. He did specially mention that he was going to shoot up MSU. We are not releasing any other information at this time," Gonzales said in an email Friday.
More:Thousands fill heart of MSU's campus for solemn vigil marked by silence
More:An onslaught of trauma is creating a generation on alert
McRae was hired as a part-time clerk in January 2020 and left in March 2021, Cakmakci said. The job is an entry-level position that typically pays $15 to $16 an hour, one of thousands at the facility.
"We don't really know much about him, other than he worked there. ... He never needed the union stewards or anything like that," Cackmacki said.
"It's possible, you're on a (forklift), you put your earphones on, you could be cruising around all day ... could somebody hide in there? Absolutely. You could work and not know anybody."
A Meijer spokesperson did not immediately return a call and email seeking comment.
On Tuesday, the company tweeted a message that said in part, "Our hearts go out to the victims, families and entire MSU community, to those that grieve and those that are supporting them in this time of need."
Contact Dave Boucher: dboucher@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: MSU shooting suspect citing Meijer in note shocks union leader
