LANSING, Mich. — Members of the Michigan State University community came together Wednesday evening to mourn the three students killed in a mass shooting that happened two days ago.

Hundreds gathered for a candlelight vigil, many of whom were students, staff and first responders caught in the chaos of Monday night.

“Darkness is the absence of light,” said Jonelee Goulding, a MSU employee, at the vigil. “The symbol of light is something that can always kind of extinguish the darkness that can come with anything like this.”

Three students were killed and five others were critically wounded when a gunman opened fire in two campus buildings.

A gunman opened fire at Berkey Hall Monday while students were in class, then moved to the nearby student union and continued firing.

Officials say Alexandria Verner, Brian Fraser and Arielle Anderson were killed.

Fraser was a sophomore and president of his fraternity on campus, Phi Delta Theta.

Anderson was a junior, preparing for a career as a doctor.

Verner was an all-state athlete in high school, working toward a degree in biology.

Five other students remain in critical condition. 

The gunman shot and killed himself, according to authorities.

Flags are flying at half staff on the campus, where classes have been cancelled for the rest of the week, and parts of the university remain a crime scene.

While the campus grieves, Democratic state lawmakers in Michigan plan to introduce legislation to address gun violence – including requiring universal background checks, allowing extreme risk protection orders to take guns from dangerous people, and mandating safe storage requirements.

Michigan’s governor spoke out about what she says is the urgent need for gun reform.

“We cannot keep living like this. Our children are scared to go to school,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

The mantra of organizers of the rally is “enough is enough.”

Democrats control both houses of the legislature and the governor’s office in Michigan, so there is hope from gun safety advocates that those measures they’re proposing could actually pass.