Samuel Boudreau
News Editor
Since this is an ongoing investigation, the Voice granted the victim anonymity and will refer to them as “John Doe”.
After an evening of studying, John Doe looked forward to catching up with their friends at Kittredge Hall for fourth meal. Between the Lowry Student Center and Babcock Circle, however, three BB-gun/ airsoft bullets crashed into Doe’s ribs, arm and neck. “I think it might’ve been a BB-gun,” Doe said, “because It was able to give me a pretty good welt through the biggest part of my jacket.” Shocked, Doe looked to their left and saw the gun’s barrel pointing towards them, speeding into the dark. “I’m definitely going to be trying to stay on the interior of campus as much as possible,” said Doe, “especially after dark.” “With how hard it hit me through my jacket, had they hit me in the eye,” said Doe, “this is something that could have legitimately hurt me.”
On Tuesday, April 4, at 8:50 p.m., a group of individuals in a light gray or light blue van shot airsoft/BB gun bullets at Doe along Beall Avenue. As of April 5, Director of Campus Safety, Joe Kirk, told the Voice that Campus Safety and the Wooster Police have not found the suspects but have obtained a photo of the vehicle.
“Student safety is crucial, and we will continue to take actions to strengthen it,” said President Sarah Bolton in response to the emergency. “I am very sorry that a student was harmed in this way, and grateful that they reported it so that the Police could act on the information.”
Bolton said the College is continuing to take steps to make Beall Avenue safer for students. Two steps to strengthen Beall avenue include the implementation of license-plate readers and the hiring of a security consultant on campus. “The first is the planned installation of license-plate readers,” Bolton said, “which do a much better job of capturing plates (and thus making it possible to identify and report to police those who may cause harassment or harm from passing cars) than our cameras do.” The College will install these license-plate readers in late April. “In addition, the board has established a task force on Beall Avenue safety, and they are working to bring an excellent security consultant to campus to help us determine additional steps that could be helpful,” said Bolton, who said she will share more information with the campus community in the upcoming weeks.
“I hope the administration takes what I have to say seriously,” said Doe. “I saw the advice that they gave in the safety notification they sent out via email of traveling in groups.” “That is not something that we should have to worry about, so I hope Campus Safety and the admin do take this seriously.”
