Michigan State alumni vigil honors victims of shooting
Michigan State alumni coming together here in Chicago tonight for a candlelight vigil just days after a mass shooting on campus in East Lansing. CBS 2's Noel Brennan joins us live from River North where Spartan fans grieved and then cheered on their team. Noel, tonight was the first basketball game for Michigan State since that shooting. Right Dana, since Monday Michigan State has not been thinking much about basketball at all but Chicago Spartans, the alumni group, they typically gather here at Treehouse for game watch parties. Tonight's game may have ended in a loss but it brought together a family of green and white. Come on, come on, come on! Rivalry makes for a great game. Nice shot, nice shot.
Woo! Yeah! But respect defines this matchup in Michigan. Because I think it's bringing two teams that are competitive but they also have one union of support and love. Diane McFarland and her Michigan State family in Chicago feel the support and they need it. When this happened it was just like someone was violating your home. A shooting on campus took the lives of three students and injured five more. Spartans strong, go green, love Makayla. The loss brings together a crowd of Spartans in Chicago.
You're never alone in the Spartan community, go green. Before tip off of Michigan State's first game since the shooting, students, alumni and fans are not thinking about a game. We're Spartan strong and I really think that that has really come through this week. They're hurting, there's a pain and they need us. A vigil takes over the top floor of Treehouse in River North and it's full of green and white. Yes, this terrible thing happened on campus but we're not going to let it define us. We are moving on and starting the healing process and bringing together our communities.
A basketball game can be a first step. And I also want to compliment U of M. They really have done a beautiful job. To support us even though it's a big rivalry. After a week filled with so many tears. Spartans deserve to cheer. The Chicago Spartans alumni group says all proceeds from its annual fundraiser next month will go to the Spartan strong fund.
That is a fund that MSU set up to support victims of the shooting. Reporting live tonight from River North, Noel Brennan, CBS 2 News. Dana. Alright Noel, thank you. Meanwhile, the first funerals were held for the Michigan State students killed in the mass shooting on campus earlier this week. Friends and family of sophomore Brian Frazier gathered in the Detroit suburb of Gross Point Farms to pay their final respects. At the same time, a funeral was held for junior Alexandria Werner in the nearby suburb of Clawson.
A memorial service was scheduled for later in the day for the third student killed, Arielle Anderson. Her funeral is set for next week.
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