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NEW details here.
Tension between rival groups of friends from New Jersey and Washington, D.C., preceded the late-night shooting at Delaware State University that wounded two people, students said Saturday.
While investigators worked to find the shooter who opened fire early Friday as several students left a campus dining hall, a classmate recalled how the violence had escalated from altercations during the week.
"They've been getting into it, New Jersey people and D.C. people," said James Dillion, 23, of Cleveland.
"Thursday night, they saw each other again and got into it," he said. "Everybody's still astonished about what happened."
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Delaware State University remains in lockdown, over 24 hours after two students were shot on campus.
With the suspect or suspects at large, classes were cancelled and the campus was shutdown.
When will classes resume at DSU? When will the lockdown be lifted?
Progress in finding the shooter has been hampered rather than helped by an eyewitness to the shootings.
One of the victims has decided not to cooperate.
DOVER, Del. -- Two students were shot and wounded, one seriously, at Delaware State University early Friday, prompting administrators mindful of the massacre at Virginia Tech to order a swift shutdown of the campus while police searched for the gunman.
Police identified two students as "persons of interest," questioning both of them, while students remained locked in their dorms and officers lowered gates to keep anyone from coming onto the campus of the 3,690-student historically black university.
...The two students were shot on the Campus Mall, between the Memorial Hall gymnasium and Richard S. Grossley Hall, an administrative building. Investigators believed the shootings may have been preceded by an argument at the cafe, and [university spokesman Carlos] Holmes said it did not appear to be random.
The male student, who was wounded in the ankle, refused to answer questions by police about the shootings, raising the likelihood that he knew his attacker, according to a federal law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing.
...Alex Bishoff, 20, a freshman from Washington, D.C., said he heard five gunshots and looked out his dormitory window to see people scattering. He said he immediately thought of the Virginia Tech shootings last April.
Students were warned within about 15 minutes, Bishoff said. "I think they handled it pretty well," he said.
Timmara Gooden, 20, of Philadelphia, said in a phone interview from her dorm room that she and her suite mates kept each other calm and were making sure that their parents understand that they're OK.
Students weren't even going into their dorm hallways. "We don't want to walk out there, because we don't know what's going on," Gooden said.
Students were still being advised Friday afternoon to remain in their dorms, but were being escorted to the cafeteria for meals. Officials also made arrangements for students who wanted to leave campus for the weekend, during which hordes of race fans and recreational vehicles converge on the town for NASCAR action across the street at Dover Downs Speedway.
So the male student is holding the university hostage by refusing to assist police.
What a self-centered person!
University president Allen Sessoms emphasized the shooting was not random.
"This is an internal problem," said Sessoms. "There are no externalities ... this is just kids who did very, very stupid things."
Huh?
This is "just kids who did very, very stupid things"?
It sounds like this is an internal problem, a problem with university leadership.
University president Allen Sessoms has a double shooting on his campus and he passes it off as "just kids" doing "stupid things."
Let's get this straight: It's not "just kids." A toy gun wasn't used in the shooting.
It's not about "stupid things." Attempted murder isn't a "stupid thing." It's an extremely serious offense.
I think it's not being stressed enough that the male victim isn't giving police information. Obviously, he practices the No Snitchin' philosophy.
That is a serious internal problem.
Are the 3,700 DSU students and university staff ticked off that this male victim is keeping quiet rather than helpng to solve the matter?
Are the parents of the students angry with him for refusing to cooperate with police?
DSU authorities keep patting themselves on the back for their swift response, putting the word out within 20 minutes after police were informed of the shootings that students should stay in their rooms.
Although circumstances were dramatically different from those at Virginia Tech and its really like comparing apples and oranges, Delaware State responded well.
However, focusing on their quick response misses the point.
The fact that the male victim won't help police is the important part of the story here. That shouldn't be glossed over.
The male victim's actions are completely inexcusable, irresponsible, and selfish.
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UPDATE:
Since I wrote this post, the AP is reporting a twist.
John Stokes, a spokesman for the District of Columbia schools superintendent, identified the victims as Shalita Middleton and Nathaniel Pugh. Middleton attended Washington's Woodrow Wilson High School, and Pugh attended Dunbar High School, Stokes said. He said he did not know what year they graduated.
University police said they had identified two persons of interest, both students. Both were interviewed and then released, university spokesman Carlos Holmes said Saturday morning. Police had identified no suspects.
A federal law enforcement official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing, had said the male victim refused to answer questions by police about the shootings, raising the likelihood that he knew his attacker.
But Holmes, who spoke to university police about the investigation, said that report was incorrect. "They said (the victim) is answering their questions," Holmes said.
This is a he said, he said.
The victim is answering questions. The victim isn't answering questions.
Bottom line--
The shooter is at large.
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