SU Shooting Still Under Investigation: Former student now behind bars

Last Wednesday, Southern University campus police officers P. Porter and Brian Philson responded to the scene of what was identified as the vehicle of a student who was initially banned from the University. The student was identified as 22-year-old former SU music major, Devonte D. Stewart of Shreveport, Louisiana.
According to an online article published by the Baton Rouge Advocate on last Friday, the officers attempted to block in the students’ Jeep demanding Stewart to remove himself away from the vehicle. However, Stewart refused to do so and proceeded in the process of attempting his getaway. Stewart then reversed his vehicle into one of the officer’s police cars and made his way off campus, but not before receiving a gunshot wound his left arm through the driver side window.
As of now, the case is still under investigation to determine where Stewart was shot and by whom. Senior chemistry major, Angelique Bass says that she witnessed the event of the scene happening from her apartment window facing the parking lot. “After the first shot, I just dove to the ground,” said Bass. “I thought he was about to run into the building the way he stepped on the gas so hard, but he made a sharp turn to try to get in between the tree and the car to get away.”
As mentioned in an earlier online article posted by the Southern Digest, Stewart was later chased down on Interstate -10 where he was apprehended in West Baton Rouge Parish and eventually brought into custody. Stewart’s wound is considered non-life threatening.
As of last Friday, Stewart was booked on counts of criminal trespassing, reckless operation of a vehicle, resisting an officer, operating vehicle with a suspended license, illegal possession of a firearm on a school campus and aggravated assault against a police officer with a motor vehicle.
According to the Advocate’s article, earlier in August, Stewart was arrested by SU police on counts of marijuana possession, illegal possession of a firearm and several other counts. East Baton Rouge Parish prosecutors charged him on October 12th with possession of marijuana on school property and misdemeanor resisting arrest, which are still pending at the 19th Judicial District Court. Several students who refused to disclose their identity, were bothered that the jag safe app did not release any notifications of the shooting. However, SU Police Chief Joycelyn Johnson says that the police were in direct contact of the student, therefore, there wasn’t any need to send out an alert.
According to a statement made in the Advocate’s article, Stewart said that he had feared for his life so he quickly used an app called SnapChat to upload a video of the police chase. Issues relating to the “Jag Safe” app and how it works will be covered in an upcoming issue.