NORMAL – A man is recovering after being shot Sunday night while at an event at the Bone Student Center.
Police Chief Aaron Woodruff of the campus’ police department said the man, who was taken to a local hospital by a private vehicle, suffered non-life-threatening injuries after the shooting, which occurred around 7:40 p.m.
Woodruff emphasized that this incident does not characterize the safety of the campus.
“I would say we are still a very safe campus,” Woodruff said. “Unfortunately we’re not immune from the issues that happen in the greater community and society, and so we do our best to try to keep our students safe.”
He continued by saying, “We encourage students to make sure that they download the Safe Redbirds app so that they can stay aware and informed of what is occurring on campus and take whatever necessary precautions they need to do for their own safety.”
The chief said the matter remains under investigation, but he believes that more than one person could be arrested in connection with the shooting.
“We’re still sorting through a lot of things,” he said. “I know not just our department, but the university as a whole is getting a lot of questions and calls, and so that’s why we’ve tried to share a lot of resources with the campus community when we do send out messaging, whether it’s counseling, whether it’s dean on duty, some people that can help our students kind of process what occurred.”
Earlier Monday, the department released photos of a “person of interest” related to a shooting Sunday night at the Bone Student Center that left one person injured. The shooting occurred in an entryway on the building’s west side, the school has said.
Initially, no victims were found at the scene, the chief said, but later, they learned the woman at the hospital.
The photos came from a surveillance camera which captured the “person of interest” whom the ISU police say fled the scene after the shooting.
“I share the sentiments expressed by many in our community, including concern for the victim and their family, as well as shock and anger that such violence occurred on our campus,” said Aondover Tarhule, ISU’s president. “I want to commend the ISUPD and the staff at the Bone Student Center for their quick response last evening in securing the location and assisting those nearby.”
The student center, the school has said, is closed, but classes were being held. Given the shooting, Tarhule said he has asked “instructors to extend flexibility to students who might have been impacted or direct them to the following resources. There are also resources available to faculty and staff who need assistance.”
Those who need to get things they might have left at the student center can do so Monday through 4:30 p.m. and then again on Tuesday, beginning at 7 a.m., by going to the welcome desk on the building’s first floor. The north entrance near the Visitor’s Parking Lot will be accessible today only for this purpose.
The Bone Student Center will reopen on Tuesday at 7 a.m., and all employees assigned to the Bone should report to work as regularly scheduled. Employees should contact their direct supervisor with any questions.
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