The Southern University Police Department (SUPD) is currently investigating recent reports of a series of pellet gun shootings on campus.
The Department issued a statement Thursday afternoon notifying faculty, staff and the student body of two separate pellet gun shootings, with three students sustaining minor injuries.
Sent as an emergency message via official university e-mail, the advisory stated, “On Wednesday, November 1, SUPD was notified that a student had received a minor injury by what is believed to be a pellet gun.”
The notification continues, “SUPD also was advised that at least two other students received minor injuries under similar circumstances on October 29, in the north campus residential housing area.”
Freshman native of Little Rock, Arkansas studying Mass Communications, Araina Akins, was a victim of the shooting incident that took place on Sunday, October 29. Akins was hit in the lower back with several pellets and sustained a bruise about the size of a half dollar.
Computer engineering freshman from Tampa, Florida, Kayla Nelson, was also a victim in the attack and is Akins’ room mate.
The girls were walking from the 400’s, an on campus apartment building behind Jones Hall towards Totty Hall.
After being hit by the pellets, the girls sprinted towards their dorm.
“I heard it and then I was like ugh, why [are] you touching me, then my room mate was like girl I’m not touching you…then it was like three more [pellets] and she took off running,” stated Akins.
“She went to the RA office and she told them and they called the police,” admitted Akins.
Upon the arrival of SUPD, the girls were questioned, given a case number and told that they would be hearing from the department soon.
“They didn’t even contact us until the next boy got hit,” Akins reveals.
Nelson recalls the events of that night stating, “I was walking to Totty Hall and I got shot in my lower thigh on the right side. I was really scared because somebody was really shooting at us.”
Nelson had bruising and swelling on her thighs but admits that she is glad SUPD is handling the case.
Two days later, on November 1st, authorities responded to yet another call of a victim being shot with a pellet gun.
Authorities reported that the student had to be taken to a local hospital for treatment. It is said that the victim sustained injuries to the face.
SUPD assures the Jaguar Nation that they are aggressively investigating the incident although there are no known motives and none of the victims have made clear whether they know the shooter or not.
The police department has also increased security and patrols around campus to ensure student safety.
Students with any information about the shootings or a possible suspect are urged to contact SUPD at 225-771-2270.
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Pellet Gun Sniper Strikes Three: SUPD investigating on campus shootings
November 7, 2017
Pellet Gun Sniper Strikes Three: SUPD investigating on campus shootings
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