WDBJ7 Roanoke News and Weather NRV Lynchburg Danville | Several students upset over way Ferrum handled shooting situation
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"In this instance they did not see it as an immediate threat to our students. They knew who the players were, they knew the extent of what was going on," explains Ferrum College Spokesperson Natalie Faunce.
"I think that because students didn't see a thousand police officers on campus, I think they were under the impression that things were not being done correctly," says Sam Catron, Ferrum College's SGA president.Franklin County sheriff's investigators are still on the hunt for the man who shot two students Sunday morning near Ferrum College.
One thing they say for sure, the gunman wasn't a student, though they haven't named a suspect. Authorities have received information, which while not ready to release, it could help them find the shooter.
Monday though, it's not just the shooter coming under fire but the school.
A short message about the incident was sent more than three hours after the shooting. That has a number of students angry and wondering if school officials dropped the ball.
"I think it should've been a little more informative into what actually happened. It wasn't just an injury, two students got shot. This, Ferrum, that stuff doesn't happen around here," said Carly Jones, student.
The shooting began as a fight over a girl outside a house less than 200 feet from campus property.
Students say not even 24 hours before, someone fired a gun at a frat house, also near the college, leading them to question their safety.
"We walk in a group now, we lock all of our doors 24/7, we try not to go anywhere at night by ourselves," said Autumn Anderson, student.
College officials are aware of both incidents. And like authorities, don't believe either are related. As far as waiting to alert students after the Sunday morning shooting, several factors went into that decision.
"In this instance they did not see it as an immediate threat to our students. They knew who the players were, they knew the extent of what was going on, they did not feel that this person was going to come on campus and do our students harm" said Ferrum College Spokesperson Natalie Faunce.
"I think that because students didn't see a thousand police officers on campus, I think they were under the impression that things were not being done correctly," said Sam Catron, Ferrum College's SGA president.
One reason authorities also felt the campus wasn't in danger is because two officers happened to be at the entrance of the school pulling over a suspected drunk driver around the time this was going on, so they quickly began keeping an eye out on who was coming into the school.
