A confrontation between students in a parking lot at Northern Arizona University turned deadly early Friday when, police say, a freshman pulled a gun and shot four male students, killing one.
What led the suspect, identified by university police as Steven Jones, 18, to open fire around 1:20 a.m. Friday remained unclear. University police Chief Gregory T. Fowler said Jones was cooperating with investigators.
The slain student has been identified as Colin Brough, according to the university’s website. The three others are being treated at Flagstaff Medical Center. They are Nicholas Prato, Kyle Zientek and Nicholas Piring, the school said.
Fowler said it appeared the victims had been shot multiple times.
The victims were all members of the Delta Chi fraternity, the organization said Friday. The suspected gunman was not, the fraternity said.
“We are deeply saddened by this tragedy and our thoughts and prayers are with the friends and family of the victims, as well as the entire community in Flagstaff,” the fraternity said in a statement. The organization said it was seeking the university’s help in providing counseling to its members.
University President Rita Cheng said the school had experienced “a terrible tragedy.”
“This is not going to be a normal day at NAU,” she told reporters. “Our hearts are heavy.”
Students shaken up
Students, appearing weary and shocked, attended a news conference on the shooting. Some questioned why it took more than an hour after the shooting for text notifications warning of danger to go out to the university community.
Junior Megan Aardahl told CNN she awoke to text messages from the school and her family checking to see if she was OK. She said the incident rattled her and other students.
“There’s a huge sense of community here, so everyone’s just trying to like reach out and make sure everyone’s OK, but it’s a little anxious not knowing who’s involved,” she said.
Fowler said he couldn’t immediately explain the messaging delays but said officers sent initial alerts out of an abundance of caution even though the situation was under control and there was no danger to students.
Gov. Doug Ducey pledged state support to help police investigate the shooting and to help those injured recover.
“This heartbreaking incident will impact many of our fellow citizens, and I ask all Arizonans to keep them and the family of the individual lost in their thoughts and prayers as they cope with this tragedy,” he said.
U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, also issued a statement.
“My thoughts and prayers are with families of the person who was killed and the three others who were wounded in the horrific shooting on the campus of Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff early this morning,” he said. “I appreciate the efforts of all state and local law enforcement officials, first-responders and school administrators, and continue to pray for the recovery of the injured, as well as all those in the NAU community who have been impacted by this terrible tragedy.”
The shooting comes the same day President Barack Obama is set to visit Roseburg, Oregon, and the families of those slain in the October 1 massacre at Umpqua Community College.
The gunman in that case, Chris Harper-Mercer, 26, killed nine people before killing himself, according to police.
