2008 Woodie Awards
BREAKING: 2 arrested in Thursday night Ruby Hall incident
Individuals involved were MSU students, members of football squad
Aubra Whitten and C.J. LeMaster
Issue date: 3/28/08 Section: News
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Junior Michael Brown and sophomore Quinton Wesley have been tentatively dismissed from the university and permanently from the MSU football squad. A campus judicial hearing will be held at a later time.
Brown is charged with possession of a firearm; Wesley, with aggravated assault. Both charges are felonies.
Allegedly Wesley fired a shot at a nearby car, according to the Clarion-Ledger.
"University police detectives continue to interview witnesses, and additional criminal charges are being considered," Dean of Students Mike White said. "Officers determined there was no threat to other students and moved quickly to secure the area and recover the weapons."
The handguns were subsequently recovered by university police officers that evening.
An e-mail sent to students, staff and faculty Friday afternoon stated that MSU police officers determined no immediate threat was present.
"Had there been immediate danger, a timely warning would have been sent to the campus community via the university's Maroon Alert system," the e-mail said.
Gunshots rang out after approximately 8:30 p.m. Thursday night near Ruby Hall on the Mississippi State campus, according to residents and MSU employees.
The news release indicated the incident took place shortly after 9:30 p.m., which contradicts some residents' claims.
"Campus is secure right now. That's all I can say," MSU police dispatcher Laurie Edwards said Thursday night.
Three police cars remained stationed around the location for approximately two hours afterward, residents said.
"I was in Griffis [Hall, a nearby residence hall,] and looked out the window and saw cop cars," sophomore English major Laura Allen said.
By approximately 10 p.m., thru access roads running through Zacharias Village had been closed off by MSU police and department of housing and residence life staff in their personal vehicles.
Crime scene tape surrounded a small area near the front entrance of Ruby Hall, with police officers talking to students and members of residence life staff Thursday night.
No other details about the episode are available at this time.
The Reflector will have continuing coverage of this breaking story as more news becomes available.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 18
Concerned Individual
posted 3/28/08 @ 9:00 AM CST
My question is...Why wasn't the Maroon Alert System used? Wouldn't this have warranted alerting other students, staff, and faculty since classes are still in session at 8:30. (Continued…)
Concerned Staff
posted 3/28/08 @ 9:42 AM CST
I agree with the previous comment.... where was the maroon alert. Isn't this exactly the type of event (Virginia Tech shooting) that inspired the university to create this system. (Continued…)
Tahm
Concerned Staff
posted 3/28/08 @ 9:51 AM CST
I agree with the previous comment.... where was the maroon alert. Isn't this exactly the type of event (Virginia Tech shooting) that inspired the university to create this system. (Continued…)
Student
posted 3/28/08 @ 12:27 PM CST
You can defiantly tell by this and other weather incidents that have happened at night that the Maroon alert is only used from 8-5. There has been several night where messages have not been sent out and the area was under tornado warning. (Continued…)
jim
posted 3/28/08 @ 12:53 PM CST
Here is a statement from campus today: "No one was injured, and MSU police officers who investigated determined there was no imminent danger to campus. (Continued…)
Student
posted 3/28/08 @ 1:26 PM CST
I don't believe they needed to send an alert out. Most likely when the police arrived on scene they realized this was between a couple of individuals,not a random shooting. (Continued…)
john a.
posted 3/28/08 @ 1:29 PM CST
ok it happened at 9:30 not 8:30 could you people at least get it right
C.J. LeMaster
posted 3/28/08 @ 2:26 PM CST
Residents around the dorms say it actually happened after approximately 8:30 p.m., not 9:30 p.m. as the officials claimed.
K. Hunt
Kerry
posted 3/28/08 @ 3:37 PM CST
Based only on the appearance that Michael Brown is guilty of nothing more than bringing a gun on campus, he should immediately be reinstated to school and the football team. (Continued…)
john
posted 3/28/08 @ 5:57 PM CST
These 2 stupid ass thugs got what they deserved. Why the hell were they toting guns on campus in the first place? Is Starkville slowly becoming West Jackson? Gimme a break. (Continued…)
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