Tuskegee, Alabama – Tragedy Strikes During Homecoming Weekend
Early on Sunday, November 10, 2024, a shooting at Tuskegee University resulted in the death of one individual and left at least 16 others injured during the university’s homecoming celebrations. The incident occurred on campus when gunfire erupted, causing chaos among students and visitors.
Details of the Incident
The victim, identified as La’Tavion Johnson, an 18-year-old from Troy, Alabama, was not a student at the university. In the attack, authorities reported that 12 people were injured by gunfire, while the remaining four suffered injuries from the panic that ensued. Some of the injured were taken to East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika and Baptist South Hospital in Montgomery; reports indicate that at least one person is in critical condition.
Arrest Made
Shortly after the shooting, law enforcement arrested Jaquez Myrick, a 25-year-old from Montgomery. Myrick was apprehended while leaving the scene and was found with a handgun equipped with a machine gun conversion device. He has been charged federally with possession of a machine gun. Authorities have not confirmed whether Myrick was a student of Tuskegee University.
University Response
In light of the violence, Tuskegee University President Dr. Mark A. Brown announced heightened security measures, including closing the campus and requiring all students and faculty to wear identification while on school grounds. Brown emphasized that the shooting took place at an event that was not sanctioned by the university, indicating that there were no planned security measures in place for the gathering.
Classes were canceled for Monday and Tuesday, and counseling services were made available to students affected by the incident. President Brown confirmed that a town hall meeting would be held to address concerns within the university community.
Eyewitness Accounts
Student Sid Guynn, an 18-year-old freshman, recounted his terrifying experience. He described hiding under a car when he heard the shots, initially thinking it was a machine gun. “It was terrifying; I couldn’t find my phone or my brother,” Guynn stated. His brother, not a student at the university, had been visiting for the homecoming weekend.
Senior Amare’ Hardee, president of the student government association, spoke to the grieving atmosphere on campus, stating, “This senseless act of violence has touched each of us, whether directly or indirectly.” Guynn hopes that the university will implement better security to prevent such violence from recurring.
Investigation Underway
The FBI has joined local authorities in investigating the shooting, actively seeking public assistance and video footage of the event for a clearer understanding of the incident. The ongoing concern about machine gun conversion devices, which can quickly turn standard firearms into machine guns, has been magnified by this tragedy.
Authorities and community members alike are calling for action to prevent such incidents in the future. As the university community grapples with the aftermath of the shooting, many are left feeling shaken and seeking ways to foster a safer environment.
