18-year-old shot on Clark Atlanta campus during homecoming weekend
Clark Atlanta homecoming shooting investigation
An 18-year-old is shot and rushed to the hospital in critical condition after a shooting on the campus of Clark Atlanta University during homecoming weekend. The University says the teen is not a student at CAU, but the college did issue several alerts for students to shelter in place when the shooting happened Friday night.
ATLANTA - Clark Atlanta University police are looking for a gunman who shot an 18-year-old multiple times on the campus during homecoming weekend.
CAU officials say the shooting victim was not a student.
Atlanta Police say the teen was rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital in critical condition.
"I did hear the shots, but I did not think much of it," freshman Montez Martin recalled.
Martin was in the same parking lot where the shooting happened outside Beckwith Hall, an all-male dormitory, on the campus of Clark Atlanta University.
Atlanta Police say the 18-year-old victim was sitting in front of Beckwith Hall with his girlfriend just before 11 p.m. Friday, when he was approached by a male who demanded his belongings. Police say an argument escalated to gunfire, and the teen was shot multiple times.
"I was like right beside it. It happened in the student parking deck, and I was in the car, and I was focused on getting inside, getting to safety," freshman Martin said.
LIST OF GEORGIA JUVENILES, TEENS KILLED OR INJURED IN 2023 BY GUNS
The gunfire sent several people scrambling. Atlanta Police say they moved in to assist with crowd control. FOX 5 crews saw evidence of police tape outside the dorm Monday morning.
Students are reacting to the shooting.
"It has kind of become the usual on campus... not on campus per se, but in this area. This is a disinvested area, so there is a higher crime rate in this area," student Donae Beckford explained.
CAU Police are investigating the shooting and looking for the suspect. The college issued three alerts Friday night and asked students and families to shelter in place until APD cleared the scene.
Many of the students are taking the violence in stride.
"Obviously, it’s going to raise a couple of eyebrows. Overall, I still feel safe on my campus," one student asserted.
"My mom told me to be careful, and I know my grandmother is praying for me always," student Beckwirth concluded.
CAU released a statement Monday which said in part:
"The incident which was not associated with our homecoming is currently under investigation in collaboration with Atlanta Police."
One student said the cameras on campus captured vital information for this investigation.
Atlanta Police have made no arrest.