Phoenix Police released details late Wednesday night of the off-campus shooting incident that resulted in a stray bullet hitting a GCU student.
The incident occurred near 37th Avenue and Vermont Avenue, west of campus, when multiple shots were fired just before 6 p.m. Phoenix Police officers arrived and found evidence of gunfire, canvassed the area, and learned that two individuals arrived at a local hospital with gunshot injuries. Initial information indicates the two victims – an adult male and teenage female – were present during the shooting and suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
While investigating the shooting, Phoenix Police officers learned a stray bullet struck a male GCU student near The Rivers residence halls, and officers responded at that scene. The student remains at a local hospital with a non-life-threatening injury. His parents were notified and are with him at the hospital. Also found was a second stray bullet that struck a GCU residence hall but did not injure any students. Phoenix Police determined that there was no imminent danger to the campus or the surrounding community at that time and that no lockdown of campus was necessary.
Detectives are continuing to investigate to try to determine what led up to the off-campus shooting.
We have heard some concerns about the timeliness of information that was sent to students last night. Because of the nature of the criminal activity occurring several blocks away, there was initial confusion and conflicting information as to what occurred on campus. GCU Public Safety was at the scene on campus immediately. The first priority was to tend to the injured student and ensure there was no imminent threat to the campus community. That was determined quickly; otherwise, a RAVE text alert would have been sent immediately.
Once it was determined there was no immediate threat, GCU officials wanted to get the correct information from Public Safety and Phoenix Police and also attempt to contact the parents of the injured student before sending out a communication. Members of the GCU leadership team were on campus by 6:30 p.m. and immediately were in contact with other GCU staff members and Phoenix Police to sort through what occurred. The first communication via RAVE alert was sent at 8:12 p.m., which was followed up by communications via social media, direct emails to students and communications to student leaders and parent groups.
GCU President Brian Mueller and members of the leadership team will continue to gather information Thursday morning and have scheduled a meeting with about 40 student leaders to review the situation and discuss next steps. We will continue to keep students apprised of any developments.
