TUSKEGEE, Ala. (WIAT) — Mark Brown, President and CEO of Tuskegee University released a statement regarding actions the school has taken since the shooting that left one dead and at least 16 injured.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said Jaquez Myrick, 25, of Montgomery, was taken into custody while leaving the scene of the campus shooting and had been found with a handgun with a machine gun conversion device. The agency said in a statement that Myrick faces a federal charge of possession of a machine gun.
La’Tavion Johnson, 18, of Troy, who was not a Tuskegee student, died from his gunshot wounds. Several other victims, including Tuskegee students, were injured in the incident and received treatment at East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika and Baptist South Hospital in Montgomery.
Brown released the following statement Thursday:
Good afternoon, I’m Mark A. Brown, President and CEO of Tuskegee University. I would like to share an update concerning actions that we have taken since the shooting that took place on our campus in the early morning hours of last Sunday November 10th, and then I will take a few questions.
The university has canceled classes for our students this week to ensure they are able to focus on their mental health. I’ve also met with our Student Government Association President, held some dorm meetings, and will continue as we listen to the needs of our students. It is important to recognize that many students are hurt in many ways, some physical and others emotional. The number of 16 that is often reported in the media reflects those who may have gone to the hospitals. Other ailments, which are countless, occurred throughout our Tuskegee community. Our focus remains on the healing of these students and we pray for the young man that was loss and his family.
I’ve also sat in on Town Halls with students, parents, faculty and staff and heard their concerns. Our students experienced a traumatic situation that I am sure will linger with them for a long time and we want to ensure they have the support they need to focus on their studies and finish the semester successfully.
Nonetheless, it is our responsibility to secure the campus and move on so that our students can successfully complete what they came her for…an education.
We have started the process for hiring up to 8 additional police officers allowing us to provide 24/7 security patrols. While the hiring process is ongoing, we will bring up to 12 additional officers to the campus for immediate 24/7 security starting on this coming Monday, November 18th.
This is more than what we have had in recent memory. My goal is for students to see sworn officers walk the campus, walk through office and classroom buildings and dormitories. We are restructuring the front gate and adding an electronic arm to make it clear that this is not a campus where you can simply enter.
We will install 400 additional cameras with common vision, which will be able to detect weapons, to the 500 we already have. If you were around the campus earlier today you would have noticed contractors mending breaches in our perimeter gates that were previously accessible.
We are adding metal detectors as permanent fixtures, adding key fobs and keypad security that alerts when doors are propped open. We will move to the use of a security application called RAVE as one of our emergency notification systems. Students will need to have this application on their phones.
Today, more than 40 additional mobile lights are being placed as needed throughout the campus. And, as I mentioned Monday, the campus is now closed. Only badged individuals will be allowed on campus. If you are visiting campus, you must stop by the public safety building here across from the main gate to get a visitor’s pass, otherwise our security team on the gate will turn you around.
We will continue to have one gate open, the Lincoln gate, and this may mean delays coming onto campus, so build in a little extra time for that. This is a small sacrifice for the greater good. The bottom line here is that Tuskegee is a secure campus. That is a promise to our students, their parents, our faculty and staff.
With that in mind, Tuskegee students and faculty will return to campus for in person learning on Monday, November 18, 2024. However, there are no classes on Monday.
On Monday, we have planned a Day of Healing. We are asking students, faculty and staff to join us in the university chapel, on the Ave., and at the stadium on Monday, where we all can come together to show our support for one another and our TU strength. We are #TUstrong and I want our students to know that. The full schedule of events for our Day of Healing will be publicized to our community.
Some students may require special accommodations due to injuries. We are prepared to work with them to ensure they can finish the semester successfully. I and my leadership team made the decision to return to in person learning based on the feedback received from 4 other Universities that experienced similar tragedies; Mental Health experts, and many others.
We also considered the diverse opinions of students and their parents. Tuskegee University is as strong as the bricks our students used to build the buildings over 100 years ago. Buildings that still stand today. It is in this spirit of strength that we will not allow the criminals that invaded our sacred space to prevail.
We will continue to take care of and educate our students.
Mark A Brown
