Along with homecoming kicking off, the Grambling State University Police Department has been dealing with a number of other events.
Tuesday at 9:45 p.m. shots were heard coming from the rear parking lot of the Favrot Student Union. The incident occurred as the Haunted House/Costume party held in the Black and Gold Room of the Favrot Student Union was coming to an end.
Even though no injuries were reported, several witnesses provided statements regarding what they had seen.
One student gave her personal account of the scene.
“I was driving from Garner and I stopped at the stop sign when I noticed the police sirens,” said Vanessa Saleem, a senior from Mansfield. “I was shocked because there were so many officers on one person and I have never seen a person being held at gun point.”
The shooting resulted in the windows of a red Toyota Camry being shot. The damaged vehicle belonged to Nicholas Hart, a senior from Dallas.
While the incident is still under investigation, a statement was released,
“The Grambling State University campus police department is actively investigating the shooting,” said Will Sutton, GSU’s spokesperson.
Along with the shooting, the GSU police are dealing with the previous firecracker incident that occurred the day before involving five GSU students.
On Monday at 11:46 p.m. five GSU students were involved with the discharging of firecrackers near a crowd of students near Douglas, Wheatley and Pinchback dormitories.
As police officers were monitoring the crowd and providing security, they observed a white Lincoln Town Car driving east on Robinson Street throw a firecracker; it exploded causing injuries to two of the officers standing in close proximity.
One officer sustained minor burns on his face and another officer was directly hit in his abdomen, sustaining burns that penetrated his uniform.
“Both officers are true soldiers and stated they will be back on duty tonight,” says Lt. Ruby Jones on Tuesday. Three of the five arrested were GSU students; the other two are associated with the Bossier Parish Community College at Grambling program.
The arrested parties were charged with two counts of aggravated battery, criminal mischief, two counts of battery on a police officer, and simple criminal damage to property.
The three GSU students are Martez Demond Seller, 23, junior criminal justice major from Monroe; Earl Lester Williams, 23, sophomore kinesiology major from Rayville; and DeMariques Roshawn Leonard, 22, sophomore “undecided” major, from Monroe.
The two students associated with BPCC at Grambling program are LaDarrius Duinte Franklin 19, and Herdurius Leon Scott, 22. Both men are from Monroe. While the state of each man is unavailable, bail is pending.