|
Few
details released about on-campus shooting
By
Austin Lewis
Online Forty-Niner
Managing Editor
Cal State Long Beach University Police are investigating a shooting that occurred
late Saturday night that left a victim with two bullet wounds. University Police
received several 911 calls after shots were fired at approximately 11:40 p.m.
in Parking Lot 4, near the West Turnaround and the University Student Union,
according to a University Police press brief.
Police would not directly speak with the Daily Forty-Niner about the case,
and would only answer questions submitted through Rick Gloady, director of
media relations at CSULB. Several details about the incident, including information
about the victim, were not released.
Two private events took place in the vicinity of the shooting at about the
same time Saturday night—a birthday party at the Soroptimist House and
a graduation party for a high school student in the USU. According to Gloady,
the graduation party ended before the shots were fired.
Dave Edwards, director of the USU, said, “It’s difficult to say
that [the shooting] was directly related to any one event.”
He also said that although CSULB staff were working the event, they were not
there to provide security.
“The only individuals that are responsible for security on campus are the
University Police department,” Edwards said.
The shooting has raised questions about campus safety among students living
in the dorms during the summer.
“What makes this scary is that it’s much closer to where I live,” said
Stephanie Shay, a senior living in the Residence Halls. “This campus is
supposed to be very safe and that’s why it’s scarier than if it happened
somewhere else.”
“You definitely have to take precautions when you’re walking around
on campus and watch where you’re going,” said Robert Johnson, also
a senior in the Residence Halls. “It’s hard in the summertime too
because there are less people on campus and nobody is really here, so it’s
definitely less safe.”
Jillian LeDuff, a resident assistant in the Parkside Commons, said the shooting
was scary and she no longer feels as secure on campus.
“It could happen anywhere but it’s just so close to home now,” she
said.
However, Gloady said the shooting was an isolated incident.
“As a whole, the university community will assess the situation and discuss
future solutions,” he said.
The shooting victim, who according to police is not a CSULB student, received
treatment for the two bullet wounds at St. Mary’s Hospital in Long Beach
and is expected to fully recover from the injuries.
“We would appreciate any help from the public and anyone who may have possibly
witnessed the incident,” said Detective Sgt. Scot Willey. “Calls
to the University Police can be anonymous.”
Anyone with additional information can contact the CSULB Police Detective Bureau
at (562) 985-8541. |
