Campus Shooting Leaves Three Freshmen Wounded

Three Southern University freshmen were shot by an unknown suspect outside of the Women’s Gym last Saturday morning.
According to statements issued by the University and SU Police Department Chief of Police Dale Flowers, shots were fired around 12:45 a.m. in the parking lot adjacent to Mayberry Hall after police had broken up an altercation that occurred inside the gym during a freshman class sponsored party.
After campus police broke up the altercation, which authorities believe to be related, those in attendance were required to evacuate the building.
Gunshots were fired after the evacuation, and in the melee, 18-year-old Billy Jenkins of Thibodaux was shot. Also wounded from gunshots were 18-year-old Jovan Watson and 19-year-old Alcier McGee of New Orleans.
Both Jenkins and Watson were shot in their left thighs and taken to Earl K. Long Hospital by ambulance and McGee was taken to Lane Memorial Hospital in Zachary for receiving a shot in his right foot. All three have been released by the hospitals and have resumed attending classes.
“I wasn’t expecting to get hit,” said Watson. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t shocked when it happened…It just happened so suddenly.”
No description of the suspect has been given and according to unofficial witness statements, the suspect was not a recognizable person, leading police to believe that he was not a student at Southern. Flowers had also stated that the police department was also exploring the theory that a student currently attending Southern may have brought the suspect to the party.
“We have key witnesses who know who the suspect is,” said Flowers. “But we still need the students help. They must understand that we need input from them. Law enforcement works because of the involvement of the community and that’s what the students are around here, a community.”
This is the third shooting incident of a Southern University student in two years. In March 2002, Maximillian Johnson, a 19-year-old freshman from Breaux Bridge, was fatally shot in Ollie Butler Moore Hall and in January, 23-year-old sophomore offensive guard James Allen was shot in the back of his head outside of a nightclub near Louisiana State University. He later died of brain trauma caused by the shot.
Although no suspect has been named in the shooting of Johnson, 27-year-old Marcus Thomas of Baton Rouge had turned himself in to the Baton Rouge Police Department in January and was charged with second degree murder for the slaying of Allen.
Flowers also stated that very few people have come to them with credible leads in the Johnson case and that many students felt that they would lose their anonymity if they were to contribute any information relevant to the case. He said that students could anonymously call the Baton Rouge Police Department’s Crimestoppers Hotline at 225-344-7867 or 877-723-7867. He said that students could also call the SUPD at 771-2770 and leave an anonymous message for him.
“They (Southern and campus police) really need to focus on protecting us more. I didn’t come to Southern to run scared,” said Latoya London, a freshman from Jackson.
Flowers was also concerned about students illegally carrying weapons on campus. He said that even though there is still the threat of a serial killer in the Baton Rouge vicinity and other safety concerns, people must legally obtain the right to carry a firearm.
“People need to know that Southern University is a school and an institution of higher learning and the law states that you cannot have a firearm within 200 feet of a school. We’ve got to do something to make people feel more at ease on campus and at campus activities,” said Flowers. “What makes you feel that you have to bring a gun here?”
Some students at Southern feel that protection may be needed in a city that has made national headlines for recent crimes such as the serial killings and Baton Rouge native John Allen Muhammad. Muhammad was charged with participating in last year’s “Beltway Sniper” murders. But there are some that challenge that idea.
“I don’t think people on campus should carry guns because there are some people with the mentality of ignorance,” said Alecia Griffin, a freshman from Port Allen. “They may see someone look at them wrong or talk to them in a bad way and they may react violently.”
As far as upcoming events, SU Director of Student Life Robert Bennett stated the shooting would not affect the upcoming Student Government Association sponsored Springfest, but there is currently a moratorium on dances and parties held on campus. He also said that effective immediately, metal detectors would be present and a proper ID check will be enforced.
“This will certainly make us more cautious,” said Bennett. “We won’t allow outsiders at our events, period…We have to do a better job of checking ID’s and make sure that those attending Southern University sponsored activities have their ID’s.”
This does not help ease the minds of students like Amanda Griffin, a freshman from Opelousas.
“I don’t think that I will be attending any more of Southern’s events,” said Griffin. “This incident has basically frightened me and I would rather do other things that are much safer.”