LANSING, Mich. — The gunman who police said killed three students and injured five others on Michigan State University’s campus Monday night turned “evil and mean” and became a recluse after his mother’s death two years ago, his father said Tuesday in an interview.

Anthony McRae, 43, had a difficult time handling the loss of his mother, Linda McRae, and his demeanor and outlook on life “changed” after she died of a stroke on Sept. 13, 2020, according to his father, Michael McRae.

“He was grieving his mom. He wouldn’t let it go. He got bitter, bitter and bitter,” Michael McRae said. “His mom died, and he just started getting evil and mean. He didn’t care about anything anymore.”

NBC MSU gunman Anthony McRae turned evil after mother’s death, father says

Denying grief can turn into many ugly things, and this is just one of the many ways suppressed and hidden grief comes out.

It is much better to attend grief group sessions, and/or get individual grief counseling.