PINE BLUFF, Ark. — Authorities are investigating after there was a shooting on the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s campus earlier this week.
According to Criminal Investigations Lieutenant Theodore Haase with UAPB PD, the shooting happened at around 10:45 p.m. on Thursday in the parking lot across from the Harrold Complex on campus.
"There were two victims,” Haase said. “One was critically injured, and the other one had minor injuries and was treated and released.”
Haase said the victim with minor injuries was a student, while the other was a juvenile and as of Friday afternoon, remains hospitalized.
Freshman Ahmad Perkins said he had just finished playing with the band at UAPB’s Homecoming Bonfire when the shooting took place.
"We heard shots,” Perkins said. “We didn't think anything of it. But then when the shots kept going, we was like, ‘Oh no, we gotta go.’ So we left. We went to Caldwell Hall and kind of took cover and stuff."
Perkins said the band sheltered in Caldwell Hall for around 20 minutes until police told them the situation had been taken care of. He said he was saddened when he heard what had happened.
"We were just having fun. We were just chilling with everybody. There was a bunch of people out there. We was just fellowshipping," Perkins said. "And then all of a sudden they want to just start chaos. And we ain't had time for that. I was ready to go to bed."
University officials said a person of interest has been identified, but Haase said that as of Friday afternoon, nobody had been apprehended in relation to the crime, and he could not comment on any potential suspects.
“We do have footage,” Haase said. “And we are interviewing victims, witnesses and reviewing the camera footage right now. So this is still an active investigation, very active."
Haase applauded the response of law enforcement, which he said has had an added presence on campus for homecoming.
“We had both ourselves, Jefferson County and Pine Bluff,” Haase said. “Everyone was on scene within about 30 seconds of the actual event occurring. Most of us actually heard the shots. We had officers that were directly in front of the area, and they immediately responded.”
He said UAPB police believe this was an isolated incident, and it shouldn’t dissuade anyone from joining in the festivities at UAPB this weekend.
"We just want to reassure everyone. You know, we're a very secure campus. We don't have a lot of these kinds of incidents,” Haase said. “We're going to have Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, our partners at Pine Bluff Police Department, and state police out patrolling this area this weekend as well…. We feel that the security is very, very good for this.”
Haase said as the investigation is still ongoing, anyone with information is encouraged to contact campus police. They can be reached 24 hours a day at (870) 575-8102.