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‘I Thought I Was Gonna Die’: Student Who Narrowly Survived MSU Shooting Recounts Horrific Experience

[Screenshot NBC Today Show]

Brianna Lyman News and Commentary Writer
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A survivor of the Michigan State University (MSU) shooting told NBC on Tuesday morning she narrowly avoided death after bullets whizzed past her head.

Three students were killed and five injured on Monday after 43-year-old Anthony Dwayne McRae allegedly opened fire on the MSU Campus. McRae was later found dead from a sell-inflicted gunshot wound.

Claire Papoulias said that the shooter quietly entered her classroom through the back door and opened fire at the roughly 20 students. Papoulias said she heard “three or four gunshots directly behind” her and threw herself down to the floor as other classmates shouted there was a shooter.

“At that moment, I thought I was gonna die. I was so scared,” Papoulias said. Papoulias added that other students began breaking open windows so their fellow classmates could flee.

Papoulias’ mother Natalie joined her daughter for the interview, adding that her daughter called her during the shooting. She heard “about three gunshots and screaming.” (RELATED: Chinese State Media Repeats Left-Wing Talking Points, Blames Mass Shootings Against Asians On Hate)

“It was my worst nightmare,” Natalie recounted, adding that she thought her legs would give out as she tried to rush to the campus in her car.

“I mean, I feel like she really like dodged a bullet,” Natalie said.