Police at Fayetteville State Serve Murder Warrant, See Five Men Robbing Students in Dorm

AP ^ | 3-25-02 | Emery P. Dalesio

[Pharmboy]

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (AP) - Police were serving a murder warrant on a student at Fayetteville State University when they intercepted an armed robbery in the suspect's dormitory building. One student was shot in the hand, but authorities wouldn't say whether he was wounded by police or the robbers.

The officers were in the murder suspect's dorm when they received a radio call that five men were robbing students in several rooms. Students said the men were going from room to room with a gun, demanding DVDs, microwave ovens and video games.

Two robbery suspects, brothers Brian, 26, and David Smith, 23, were arrested; police were searching for the other three. They were not students at the school.

The injured student, Frederick Johnson, was treated at a hospital and released. Officers found marijuana, and he was charged with selling drugs.

His roommate, Atif Davis, 20, was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to sell or distribute and possession of a gun on school grounds, according to Cumberland County jail records.

Campus police had been serving a murder warrant on a student wanted in South Carolina, said university spokeswoman Lauren Cook Wike. The suspect, Norris Baggitt, was jailed pending a court hearing Tuesday.

Wike said the homicide occurred earlier this month, during the school's spring break.

University Chancellor Willis McLeod tried Monday to reassure students that the campus was safe.

"We are doing a number of things to make students feel safe," McLeod said. "We're doing everything we possibly can."

Wike said the university has installed new lighting and emergency call boxes in recent years. Residence halls have locked doors to prevent entry, and doors are fitted with an alarm that sounds if they are propped open.

[Pharmboy]

"We are doing a number of things to make students feel safe," McLeod said. "We're doing everything we possibly can."

How about the 10th Mountain Divsion.

[Shermy]

Sounds like the ol' Oklahoma U. football dorm.

[Pharmboy]

I wonder what this kid's major was...botany?

[elwoodp]

Went to this august institutions Web site. Let's just put it this way: The student body would warm Halle Berry's people of color heart. Why am I not surprised? You go girl!

[RightOnline]

"University Chancellor Willis McLeod tried Monday to reassure students that the campus was safe.

"We are doing a number of things to make students feel safe," McLeod said. "We're doing everything we possibly can.""

Yeah. Sure. Right.

Let's just say that I'm glad my college-aged children are attending NC State University.

[Shermy]

Maybe. Some of them pre-med students are pretty creepy.

[nightdriver]

They would not have gotten past the first door in my old college dorm. EVERY room had a gun of some kind in it. Funny thing, every one was polite to each other too!

[oyez]

And I thought middle school was getting to be a bitch.

[Pharmboy]

Y'know what's sad: I'm sure the great majority of the kids in this school are all right. It's just that the admissions committee gives some of them FAR too many chances. The bad apples should never have gotten in, but it would've been un-PC to keep them out.

I was just in your neck of the woods on Thursday: UNC, Duke and NC State are great schools.

They should put some adults in charge at Fayetteville.

[aomagrat]

Students said the men were going from room to room with a gun,

This article is obviously false. Schools are a "gun free" zone.

[Cicero]

Is that right? I have two good friends in the English department there.

[AdA$tra]

Okies and Arkies, not much difference.

[RightOnline]

Yep; have a 22-year-old and a 20-year-old there; both "officially" juniors. The oldest (a young man) just switched majors from computer engineering to business; the next (oldest daughter) is in CALS (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences) pursuing a degree in zoology (and is a Jefferson Scholar; will also earn a degree in Spanish).

[William Tell]

From the article: ' "We are doing a number of things to make students feel safe," McLeod said. '

I think I see the problem. These people focus on how others feel rather than on safety. No wonder their lives are messed up.

[Pharmboy]

Excellent pick-up; if they FEEL safe, it's enough.

[VOA]

Sounds like the ol' Oklahoma U. football dorm.

LOL! When it was in "Switzer-land"!

I think things are toned down substantially with Coach Stoops.
But the OU basketball team is playing as if possessed...hope they
don't go off the deep end like Switzer's football team.

[mathurine]

This report is a grim one, but we need a follow-up. Were the robbers also students, or people who invaded the campus to prey on students-- who tend to be rather unsuspicious.

[Ole Okie]

Okies and Arkies, not much difference.

Just the type of snotty comment one might expect from insufferable Jayhawkers.

I'll point out that the only difference betwixt Arkansans and Kansans is an AR. As in "Ar U a Jayhawker ur a Razorback?"

Go Sooners!!

[TC Rider]

I was kind of shy when I went to UofK in Lexington, Ky. I only took my Model 11. I didn't want to seem pushy.

It was ok though, ROTC gave me an M-16 to play with.

[TC Rider]

This report is a grim one, but we need a follow-up. Were the robbers also students, or people who invaded the campus to prey on students-- who tend to be rather unsuspicious.

There's really not a whole lot of difference.