HU President defends text message delay

HAMPTON, Va. - Although no current students were involved in the shooting on Hampton University's campus Sunday morning, current students are closely following the aftermath of the attack in Harkness Hall. Many are asking why they received a text message about the shooting two hours after it happened.

At a noon news conference Monday, Hampton University President Dr. William R. Harvey said Chief Crosby made the decision to wait two hours to release the information to students because the suspect was apprehended quickly. Dr. Harvey also said, "I really am proud of our emergency response system. Unlike some other systems, I say ours prevented loss of life and thank God for that."

According to Harvey, the gunman had three guns and a lot of ammunition.

"I could've went to Harkness, I could've gotten shot," said freshman Jazma Gordon. "I really fear for my life."

Around 1 a.m., school administrators said a former freshman who dropped out in November parked in a lot across the street from the University. He walked onto campus, then followed a pizza delivery man into his former dorm before opening fire, according to school officials.

A night dormitory manager, 62, suffered three gunshot wounds. He was shot in both arms, but released from the hospital four hours later.

A pizza delivery man, 43, also suffered three gunshot wounds. His wife said he will be in the hospital for a few days and he's doing all right. She told WAVY.com, "This is all God. There is no doubt about it, this is a miracle that he is alive. God saved my husband yesterday morning. I believe without a doubt the gunman thought he was dead and that's why he walked away." According to his wife, the victim tried to block of the bullets with his left hand. The bullet shattered his left hand, entered his chest and lodged behind his heart. She says the doctors decided to leave the bullet there.

The suspect survived the self-inflicted gunshot wound and remains in the hospital, according to police.

The university closed the campus after the attack.

"I locked down the campus immediately," said Hampton University Police Chief Leroy Crosby, "but once I had the scene secured, I made the decision to send the message out."

School President William Harvey said a dorm director pulled the fire alarm to evacuate the building when he heard the shots, even though the director had no idea if the gunman was still loose or that he was holding three loaded guns.

"Initially the dormitory director did not know that the shooter was in custody," said Dr. Harvey, "which is why he wanted to evacuate which was immediately the right thing."

Alert messages on the campus notification system went out to students who enrolled in the service, two hours after the shooting.

"There was no immediate threat to the university since we had the suspect in custody at the time," added Crosby.

But students like Jazma Gordon say the message should've gone out immediately. At a meeting after the news conference, students voiced their concerns.

"Dr. Harvey has this police guard in front of his house," said Gordon, "we should have police guards in our library then instead of, like, night monitors."

The university says this is the first on-campus shooting in school history. Students say they hope this is also the last.

Classes will be held as scheduled on Monday. The school will offer counseling to any students who are distraught after the attack.