Northwest Missouri State University acted quickly to alert students about an on-campus shooting. Now, both university and state officials are studying the response in hopes of learning how best to handle such situations.
No one was injured in the shooting which occurred shortly before midnight Saturday during Homecoming weekend on the Maryville campus. Northwest Missouri State University spokesman, Tony Brown, says the university sent e-mails to students, staff and faculty and activated its automated alarm system shortly after the shooting occurred.
Brown says Northwest has had its emergency response plan in place since 1986. He says the school reviews it annually, but went through a thorough review in wake of the Virginia Tech shootings. Campus Security Director, Clarence Green, served on the governor’s Missouri Campus Security Task Force.
Co-Chairman of that task force, State Public Safety Director Mark James, says Governor Blunt has asked that the task force review the Northwest response to see if anything can be learned. James says his preliminary review of the response indicates Northwest acted appropriately.
Police say three to five shots were fired. Three hit an unoccupied car. Authorities want to talk with two men, both black with dreadlocks who were wearing green hooded sweatshirts.
Download/listen Brent Martin reports (:60 MP3)
