An Unexpected Vacation

Last night, Shawn needed to go up to his office. He attempted to turn onto campus from Dave Ward Drive. It was blocked off. There was a person flat on the ground surrounded by police officers. He decided at this time to turn around and come home. When he got home he checked his email and found that the campus was on lock down because their had been a shooting on campus. Not something you expect in Conway! Here is an email sent to us giving up the details as well as informing us class was cancelled for the day. Everyone loves a day off but not at the expense of two individual's life.

In an effort to provide the most comprehensive, reliable and up-to-date information about the shooting incident that occurred during the evening of Sunday, Oct. 26, 2008, on the campus of the University of Central Arkansas, UCA will release as much information as possible on its homepage at www.uca.edu.

The UCA Police Department received a call at 9:19 p.m. reporting shots fired. At the same time, a UCA police officer heard the shots and responded immediately.

The first two UCAPD officers were on the scene of the shooting at 9:19 p.m. The incident occurred outdoors between Arkansas Hall and the Snow Fine Arts Center.

The first MEMS ambulance arrived on scene at 9:28 p.m., and the first Conway Fire Department vehicle was on scene at 9:30 p.m.

One victim, a UCA student, was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other injured victims were transported to Conway Regional Medical Center. One of those victims, also a UCA student, died at the hospital. The other victim, who was not a UCA student, was treated and eventually released from the hospital.

The names of the victims will not be released until their relatives are notified.

UCA residence halls and the UCA Student Center were immediately locked down after the incident was reported. However, the UCA campus itself is not locked down, although officers are posted at every campus entrance, and access to campus is limited to residents and authorized personnel.

All 25 UCAPD officers were immediately dispatched. The UCAPD’s automated alert system was initiated, and every residence hall was contacted by telephone to instruct officials to secure the facilities and restrict access to the buildings. E-mails were sent to UCA student, faculty and staff e-mail systems, as well as the Safe@UCA e-mail listserv. A notification also was posted on the UCA homepage at www.uca.edu, as well as the UCAPD website at www.ucapd.com.

The UCAPD is conducting a joint investigation with the Conway Police Department and the Faulkner County Sheriff’s Office.
A person of interest has been detained, although that person is not under arrest at this time.

Classes are canceled at UCA for Monday, Oct. 27, 2008.

After the press conference this morning and the information given Shawn realized he drove by the scene as the first suspect was arrested.  Who would have guessed at that time. 

UCA has had a difficult year. This is definitely not the way they would like to make the news!  Our hearts and prayers are with the family's at this time.  May they find comfort and strength during this very difficult time!