It was inevitable, I guess. The University of Akron had an active shooter on campus.
It happened overnight and I didn’t know anything about it until this morning when I checked my text messages and saw the alert and then the all clear.
Ironically, just last week our team was talking about our emergency text system and that we should perhaps send out another test.
I got more detail once I was up and online. In one of the dorms last night, one guy shot another guy in what is called an “accidental weapon discharge”. Neither were UA students and the shooter is in custody – and the victim is in the hospital with a gut wound.
No other details yet – other than that it’s over.
In the coming days and weeks, there will be a lot of questions. Who were these guys? How did they get into a secured residence hall? Who let them in? Why was there a gun on campus and who’s was it? And why did it go off?
For now, my heart goes out to the students in the dorms. What a terrible night they must have had. And all those that were responders trying to keep our campus safe and informed.
No matter the detail of the circumstance – accident or intentional – we’re another statistic now.
One more data point. Shelter in place – this not a drill.