Alexandria Verner.
Arielle Anderson.
Brian Fraser.
They all died in the same horrific tragedy ― the Feb. 13, 2023, mass shooting at Michigan State University. But they share much more than that.
They were selfless. They were leaders. They were helpers. And, a year after their deaths, their communities continue to honor and admire their qualities as loved ones grapple with the reality of lives taken before they had a chance to be lived.
The families of Anderson and Fraser declined to be interviewed for this article. Friends, teachers and others in the lives of all three students reflected on their impact and the ways they will be remembered.
Related: Michigan State University promised security upgrades after shooting: Where they stand
Alex Verner: The teammate who made everyone feel important
It has been almost a year since a gunman terrorized the Michigan State University campus, killing Alexandria Verner, a 20-year-old junior from Clawson.
Almost a year since the phone calls and text messages that sent Verner’s close-knit hometown reeling. Since the funeral Mass where mourners said their last goodbyes.