2008 Woodie Awards
Shooting on Campus Leaves One Hospitalized
Altercation with Valley College security officers occurs hours before classes begin.
LaGina Phillips and Tammy Funicello
Issue date: 5/25/05 Section: News
A Valley College security officer shot an unidentified man yesterday, sending him to an area hospital with at least one bullet wound to the chest after an early-morning on-campus confrontation.
"The security officer shot the suspect in self-defense," said Deputy Dan Mueller of the sheriff's office. "The suspect was acting erratically and bizarre."
Sheriff's officials are not releasing the names of those involved or clarifying what precipitated the incident. At approximately 5:30 a.m., according to authorities, two sheriff's security officers confronted a lone male adult outside the on-campus sheriff's office, east of the business journalism building.
The suspect threw a brick at one of the officers, who dove out of the way, said Steve Suzuki of the sheriff's department. The second officer attempted to subdue the man with a stun gun, which appeared to have no effect. Sheriff's officials believe the suspect was under the influence of narcotics.
Suzuki said the suspect then picked up a concrete ashtray, attempting to assault the second officer. The first officer fired multiple rounds, hitting the suspect at least once in the upper torso.
The suspect is not affiliated with the college; he is not a student, instructor nor works on campus, according to Mueller. One of the officers was treated for lacerations on his hands and arms and released. The condition of the suspect was unknown at press time.
Suzuki noted that the security officers involved in yesterday's shooting are not sheriff's deputies. He explained that, while deputies are sworn peace officers of the state, security officers are civilians with certification to carry a firearm but no police powers. Their job is to help the sheriff's department patrol the campus.
"We're fortunate that the campus sheriff's [department] came together and it didn't impact students," said Valley College President Tyree Wieder.
Since 1965, there have been no other shootings on campus, and the only deaths during that period were three suicides, according to Sharon Johnson, senior assistant at the Sheriff's office.
"The security officer shot the suspect in self-defense," said Deputy Dan Mueller of the sheriff's office. "The suspect was acting erratically and bizarre."
 Media Credit: Khadijah Abdullah Valley College´s sheriff´s station, east of the business journalism building, served as the scene of Tuesday´s on-campus shooting that left an unidentified man with at least one bullet wound to the chest. |
Sheriff's officials are not releasing the names of those involved or clarifying what precipitated the incident. At approximately 5:30 a.m., according to authorities, two sheriff's security officers confronted a lone male adult outside the on-campus sheriff's office, east of the business journalism building.
The suspect threw a brick at one of the officers, who dove out of the way, said Steve Suzuki of the sheriff's department. The second officer attempted to subdue the man with a stun gun, which appeared to have no effect. Sheriff's officials believe the suspect was under the influence of narcotics.
Suzuki said the suspect then picked up a concrete ashtray, attempting to assault the second officer. The first officer fired multiple rounds, hitting the suspect at least once in the upper torso.
The suspect is not affiliated with the college; he is not a student, instructor nor works on campus, according to Mueller. One of the officers was treated for lacerations on his hands and arms and released. The condition of the suspect was unknown at press time.
Suzuki noted that the security officers involved in yesterday's shooting are not sheriff's deputies. He explained that, while deputies are sworn peace officers of the state, security officers are civilians with certification to carry a firearm but no police powers. Their job is to help the sheriff's department patrol the campus.
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"We're fortunate that the campus sheriff's [department] came together and it didn't impact students," said Valley College President Tyree Wieder.
Since 1965, there have been no other shootings on campus, and the only deaths during that period were three suicides, according to Sharon Johnson, senior assistant at the Sheriff's office.
