JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The grandfather of one of three Michigan State University students shot and killed Monday night spoke with First Coast News.
Arielle Diamond Anderson, 19, was one of the victims in that mass shooting.
Her grandfather, Dwayne Thomas, lives in Jacksonville and received the news by telephone.
“The next call I received was at 3 a.m. letting me know my granddaughter had passed,” said Dwayne Thomas.
Thomas says they were making plans for Arielle’s graduation, and now they’re making plans for her funeral. The 19-year-old had dreams of becoming a pediatrician, and she would have been the first in her family to do so.
“I received a call from my other granddaughter, her sister, the evening of the 13th of February, and they called me, and she just said granddaddy, we don’t want to spook you or anything but there was a shooting at Michigan State and we’re going up there, and we want to bring Arielle home,” said Thomas, repeating a message from his older granddaughter.
That was one of two calls Thomas remembers receiving Monday night.
The next call would be to tell him his granddaughter was shot to death.
Police say 43-year-old Anthony Dwayne Mcrae came to Michigan State University’s campus and started shooting inside of classrooms. Police say it appeared to be planned. Multiple people were injured.
Brian Fraser, Alexandria Verner and Arielle Anderson were all killed.
Anderson was Dwayne Thomas’ youngest granddaughter.
He says her future was bright.
“She liked the medical field, and she was going to be the first doctor in the family,” said Thomas.
“When I talk about my granddaughter, as a grandparent everyone says they have the greatest grandkids in the world, that’s what they say, but I will truly put my granddaughter up against anyone, and she will shine like a Diamond because that’s her middle name,” said Thomas.
Thomas is a Navy veteran who moved to Jacksonville after being stationed in Jacksonville. He says his family is in Detroit, but his Jacksonville family has stepped up to support during this tough loss.
“It’s been so much love, Destiny, I hate that it’s a tragic situation but the love and support I’ve received from Jacksonville just touches my heart,” said Thomas.
Thomas is a teacher at John E. Ford K-8 School in Jacksonville.
He says the school staff has helped out so much.
If you’d like to help Arielle’s family with funeral arrangements visit their gofundme.