Police have ruled the Thursday shooting involving two men found dead in an East Lansing martial arts studio a murder-suicide.

Jeffrey Friedlis, 29, from Grand Ledge, and Lansing resident Christopher James Emmerth, 32, were found dead at the Institute of Traditional Asian Martial Arts, 130 W. Grand River Ave., both with gunshot wounds.

Police said they were able to determine on Friday how the shooting happened and the motive behind it using interviews from witnesses and evidence found at the scene.

East Lansing police Capt. Juli Liebler said Emmerth might have been angry because his relationship with his girlfriend had ended, and he suspected Friedlis of dating her. It's believed by investigators that Emmerth confronted Friedlis at the studio, where a struggle ensued before Emmerth shot Friedlis.

Emmerth then turned the gun on himself, Liebler said.

The men were discovered around noon on Thursday in the foyer of the building by two students who arrived for a lesson. Liebler said the shooting happened at least 15 minutes prior. Neighboring businesses had heard what they described as "backfires" just before police were called.

Friedlis, an instructor at the institute, sustained about four gunshot wounds, Liebler said. Emmerth received one gunshot wound, apparently self-inflicted. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.

Dave Hurst, a marketing junior, trained with Friedlis for three years and was shocked by the news. He was out of town for spring break at the time and learned of Friedlis' death from friends.

"It's kind of like someone telling you that you're not allowed to learn anymore," he said. "I planned on doing this martial arts with him for the rest of my life."

Hurst said Friedlis was married and that his wife, Lori, gave birth to their first child on Saturday.

Family members of Friedlis declined comment on Sunday.

"He was like a mentor to all of his students," Hurst said. "He always made you feel like there was so much more to learn."

Hurst said he wasn't sure of Friedlis' relationship with Emmerth, adding that Emmerth came to the studio a few times but was not affiliated with it.

"It's really sad that this happened," Hurst said. "So many people have been affected by it."

A gun and several shell casings were found following the investigation by Michigan State Police crime-scene investigators.

Liebler said as of Friday, police were continuing to interview witnesses and waiting for autopsy results, including a toxicology examination.

The shooting occurred just two weeks after the Feb. 29 homicide at a 7-Eleven convenience store across the street from the martial arts studio.

In that incident, two Lansing men were shot as they walked out of the store, one fatally. Police officials say Thursday's shooting has no connection to the February homicide.

Katie Hayden, an East Asian languages and cultures freshman, trains at the martial arts studio and had Friedlis as an instructor for a year and a half.

"He always made us work hard and always pushed us to our limits," she said. "He helped us all grow as people."

Hayden said she worked with Friedlis the night before the shooting and was upset when she heard about his death. She said she was using the help of fellow students at the studio to cope with the situation.

Classes will continue at the institute this week, with older students helping to train some of the younger students, Hurst said.

"Everyone is just kind of trying to keep everyone together," Hurst said. "No one wants to stop training."

Sarah McEvilly can be reached at mcevilly@msu.edu.