By Erika Norton | Echo
Police continue to investigate the Nov. 19 shooting at Liberty University, during which an LU Emergency Services officer shot and killed a student.
So there was a shooting at the Annex... Uhh what?!? http://t.co/xwaJsfipYN
- Mike Barbeau (@MBarbs15) November 19, 2013
I hate how the first thing that comes up when I search liberty is the shooting ...
- Kaitryn Perez (@KaitrynPerez) November 21, 2013
The student has been identified as freshman Joshua Hathaway, 19, who was killed early Tuesday morning in the lobby of an off-campus female dorm. Hathaway attacked the officer with a hammer before the officer shot Hathaway.
Before the incident, Hathaway approached the officer and claimed that he had been robbed and that his car had been stolen, reported USA Today. According to the search warrant, "the security officer then began to investigate Hathaway's complaint but Hathaway then pulled out a hammer from his clothing and assaulted the officer."
After Hathaway attacked the officer, the student was shot and killed and the injured officer was transported to Lynchburg General Hospital for treatment, according to a statement issued by the university.
Lynchburg, Va., police responded to the incident at 4:07 a.m. after a call for assistance from the Liberty University Police Department (LUPD), according to Lt. Dave Gearhart of the Lynchburg Police Department. Gearhart declined Wednesday to provide the officer's name, updated information regarding his injuries, or whether the officer will face charges in connection with Hathaway's death, reported The News & Advance.
"We're not in a position to release any additional information," Gearhart wrote in an email.
During weekly Liberty Convocation on Wednesday morning, university President Jerry Falwell Jr. discussed Hathaway's death, according to The Roanoke Times. Falwell said students were not immediately alerted of the shooting because police felt students were not in harm's way.
"There was no danger to students," Falwell said. "The threat had gone."
LU senior David Myhren, who was shocked to hear about the shooting, mentioned he wished he had received an email letting him know of the situation.
Should a similar situation occur, Taylor has an emergency alert system, TUAlert, which sends emergency messages via text and email within minutes of an incident, according to Taylor Chief of Police Jeff Wallace.
"No system is perfect, but TUAlert does provide us with another layer of warning and communication when emergency situations arise," Wallace said.
Wallace explained how the circumstances surrounding the incident at Liberty were a little different than domestic terrorism and active shooter scenarios that have been prevalent on college campuses in recent years. Despite the differences, the violence that occurred at Liberty is still very real, but Wallace feels Taylor's campus is prepared for similar situations.
"As a police department, we train regularly to respond to all types of situations, including acts of violence, and that training is continuous," Wallace said. "Tactics and strategies are ever changing, so it is vital to stay actively pursuing better ways of doing what we do."
Not only does the Taylor Police Department fall under the authority of Taylor's university policies, guidelines and mission statement, but it also falls under the authority of the State of Indiana, the U.S. Federal Government and the U.S. Constitution, Wallace explained.
The Taylor Police Department operates under a specific set of policies, procedures and general orders which follow state and federal guidelines regarding all aspects of law enforcement activities and responsibilities under state and federal law, according to Wallace.
"We work closely and collaboratively with all local, county, state and federal law enforcement authorities," Wallace said.
To keep campus safe, Wallace emphasized the importance of being proactive, involving community and collaborating with campus personnel."The collaboration we have at TU is good but can be better," Wallace admitted. "The collaboration we have with local authorities has never been better as a police department, and I certainly look for that to continue as we move forward with training, response, needs and readiness."
Overall, Wallace feels the Taylor campus is very safe.
"Bad things do happen in this world no matter how prepared, so the responsibility we have is to always strive for better ways to do something," Wallace said. "Better ways to prepare, train, communicate and respond; I think we do that very well."
