Students react to deadly shootings
Tragedy hits close to home: two students dead at UCA
Jack Willems
Issue date: 10/29/08 Section: News
After a shooting on the University of Central Arkansas campus Sunday night left two dead and one injured, UCA and UA students are feeling the aftershock of the most recent school shooting in the state.
Chavares Block, 19, a UCA sophomore from Dermott, and Ryan Henderson, 18, a UCA freshman from Little Rock, were killed by gunfire Sunday, while a third victim, Martrevis Norman of Blytheville, who is unaffiliated with the university, was injured and released from the hospital that night, said Warwick Sabin, UCA associate vice president for communication.
"Everybody here feels a little like they're in danger," UCA sophomore Pat Curran said. "Everybody is affected. Parents feel their kids are in danger, and this has changed everything about the school's perspective of how it is a safe place to go to learn."
The UCA Police Department received a report of shots being fired between Arkansas Hall and the Snow Fine Arts Center at 9:19 p.m. Sunday, and two officers arrived at the scene of the crime within a minute, according the university Web site. The UCAPD, Conway Police Department and the Faulkner County Sheriff's Office began conducting a joint investigation Monday.
All four suspects in the shooting have been detained and were transferred to the Faulkner County Detention Center Monday night, according to the Web site. The suspects are Kawin Brockton of Conway, Kelsey Perry of Morrilton, Mario Toney of Little Rock and Brandon Wade of Lake Village. Perry was the fourth and final suspect to turn himself in to the police.
None of the suspects are students at the university, said Rhonda Swindle, UCAPD public information officer. The Faulkner County prosecutor filed charges Tuesday afternoon.
"We do not believe it was a random incident, but we cannot give out motives at this time because it is still under investigation," Swindle said.
In response to the shooting, points of access to the campus were regulated by officials for the first few hours while students were told to stay where they were, Sabin said. Classes at UCA were canceled for Monday because the administration wanted to err on the side of caution, he said.
Chavares Block, 19, a UCA sophomore from Dermott, and Ryan Henderson, 18, a UCA freshman from Little Rock, were killed by gunfire Sunday, while a third victim, Martrevis Norman of Blytheville, who is unaffiliated with the university, was injured and released from the hospital that night, said Warwick Sabin, UCA associate vice president for communication.
"Everybody here feels a little like they're in danger," UCA sophomore Pat Curran said. "Everybody is affected. Parents feel their kids are in danger, and this has changed everything about the school's perspective of how it is a safe place to go to learn."
The UCA Police Department received a report of shots being fired between Arkansas Hall and the Snow Fine Arts Center at 9:19 p.m. Sunday, and two officers arrived at the scene of the crime within a minute, according the university Web site. The UCAPD, Conway Police Department and the Faulkner County Sheriff's Office began conducting a joint investigation Monday.
All four suspects in the shooting have been detained and were transferred to the Faulkner County Detention Center Monday night, according to the Web site. The suspects are Kawin Brockton of Conway, Kelsey Perry of Morrilton, Mario Toney of Little Rock and Brandon Wade of Lake Village. Perry was the fourth and final suspect to turn himself in to the police.
None of the suspects are students at the university, said Rhonda Swindle, UCAPD public information officer. The Faulkner County prosecutor filed charges Tuesday afternoon.
"We do not believe it was a random incident, but we cannot give out motives at this time because it is still under investigation," Swindle said.
In response to the shooting, points of access to the campus were regulated by officials for the first few hours while students were told to stay where they were, Sabin said. Classes at UCA were canceled for Monday because the administration wanted to err on the side of caution, he said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Bob Bauer
posted 10/29/08 @ 10:41 AM CST
I have a son who is a student at the University and another son who is a graduate student at UCA. This incident reminds you how valuable life is and how fast it can be gone. (Continued…)
anthony
posted 10/30/08 @ 3:19 PM CST
My heart goes out to the family of this tragedy. It always saddens me to see another young life lost. I am also concerned about 2 children going to school and bought them a bullet proof backpack from bullet blocker . (Continued…)
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