A second shooting Monday within a 24-hour time period at Paine College in Augusta, Georgia has left one student seriously wounded. The victim was shot in the head inside a dormitory, and the the injury is life threatening. A 21-year-old student labeled as a “person of interest” was taken into custody, according to the Richmond Sheriff’s office.
The possible attacker was found roughly two hours after an argument occurred in Haygood Hall, which culminated in the shooting. Sgt. Michael McDaniel stated that the male student remains in custody, but has not yet been identified or formally charged.
A separate shooting had occurred Sunday afternoon on the Paine College campus after a pair of gunman fired into Gray Hall, another men’s dormitory. Two students suffered minor injuries in that incident, and the gunmen were not students. Officials have stated that there was no connection between the shootings yet established.
The Paine College Community is saddened by the turn of events and ask that everyone keep Paine in their thoughts and prayers.
— Paine College (@PaineCollege) May 5, 2014
Paine College is a historically black institution that was founded in 1882. There are roughly 900 students enrolled at present, and notable alumni include actor Danny Glover. Paine College has a 64-acre campus located near downtown Augusta. The majority of the residence halls, classroom buildings and the library are located in the main campus area.
Campus is closed and on lockdown!
— Paine College (@PaineCollege) May 5, 2014
After the 1 p.m. shooting Monday, the Paine College campus was on lock down for five hours, and classes are scheduled to resume Tuesday, with the final day of the semester being Wednesday. Nearby Georgia Regents University, as well as several nearby schools and a hospital were also closed.
The campus is no longer on lockdown. However the campus is still closed to the public. Classes will resume tomorrow as scheduled at 8am.
— Paine College (@PaineCollege) May 5, 2014
The Sheriff’s office said that additional deputies will be on the Paine College campus as a result of the rash of shootings, and commented, “the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office will be augmenting the Paine College Police to provide additional safety and security at Paine College until further notice.”
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