Arkansas Blog

Channel 11 reported that 3 people were shot and 2 were dead. Also that the gunman was in custody.

School shooting at UCA, this is from a text message my kid just got from a friend who goes there. It says 2 dead, 1 shooter caught, 1 on the run.

I have no idea if any of this is true, but this is what her friend at UCA just texted her.

Just logged into my UCA email account and there's no messages or updates there about any of it. Nothing on any of the local TV stations websites either. Glad someone was awake at the times for sure.

Update from Channel 11 a few minutes ago said one student was in critical condition. Also that witnesses reported that a white car with several people inside that drove through and shot at the students.

The Safe@UCA line says that there was a shooting, there are 4 suspects, and only 1 is in custody.

I'm a UCA student and have only heard rumors, but this is what I have heard: Either two or three shot with two possibly dead, though KATV just said UCA confirmed one death, the shooting possibly occurred either in State Hall or between State Hall and Arkansas Hall. Form the reports I've heard it sounds more likely it was outside and possibly a drive by. I have also heard the names Chavarez Block (possibly Chavares Block?) and "Red" from one student in connection with the shooting, but I do not know any more than that.

I'm a UCA student and have only heard rumors, but this is what I have heard: Either two or three shot with two possibly dead, though KATV just said UCA confirmed one death, the shooting possibly occurred either in State Hall or between State Hall and Arkansas Hall. Form the reports I've heard it sounds more likely it was outside and possibly a drive by. I have also heard the names Chavarez Block (possibly Chavares Block?) and "Red" from one student in connection with the shooting, but I do not know any more than that.

Sometimes I think the entire world has gone bonkers. With the exception of the 1966 massacre at the University of Texas, this kind of thing simply did not happen on college or high school campuses in my day. Deepest sympathy to the bereaved at UCA; and for the injured, every wish for a fast and full recovery.

From my Facebook Note: Add me for more updates (Mark Oliver, UCA)

Mark's Note: ALL INFORMATION IS LISTED FROM OLDEST TO MOST RECENT. NEWEST INFO AT BOTTOM.

A shooting that left at least two dead and left the campus on lockdown happened at the University of Arkansas at Conway on Sunday night, witnesses said.

UCA spokesman Warwick Sabin said the campus' emergency alert system was activated at 9:38 p.m. Through automated phone calls and e-mails, students and faculty members on campus were advised to stay inside and lock their doors, Sabin said.

Campus police would not say what happened to prompt the lockdown. The Log Cabin Democrat in Conway says there was a report of a shooting.

A UCA police dispatcher said more information would be made available later.

Faulkner County Sheriff Karl Byrd said he understood that two people were dead, but referred further questions to the UCA Police Department. He said the sheriff's office had offered assistance, but the UCA Police Department was handling the situation.

Notes:
Rumor has it that it took place in the alley way between Arkansas Hall and Snow Fine Arts.

Nearly an hour after shooting is reported -- still no Emergency Lockdown E-mail as stated by UCA officials. However, RAs are informed and are to be relaying the information to their students.

Edit:
2nd Shooting at Fox Run Apartments - no word on injuries. NOT CONFIRMED.

Today's THV has been told a suspect is in custody. There are reportedly 4 suspects.

10:50 PM -- I receive an e-mail from UCA:

The UCA Police Department is investigating a shooting that occurred on
campus. At present there are four suspects. One suspect is in custody.

THE CAMPUS IS CLOSED. ALL HOUSING FACILITIES ARE RESTRICTED TO
RESIDENTS ONLY.

Lieutenant Jeremy Crabb
Commander, Support Services Division
University of Central Arkansas Police Department

jcrabb@uca.edu
www.ucapd.com

Phone: 501.450.3111
Fax: 501.450.5729

ACCORDING TO KARK CHANNEL 4:
Conway Police have confirmed a shooting on the campus of the University of Central Arkansas.

UCA student Hannah Wright called into KARK shortly after the shooting.

She says she was outside at soccer practice this evening when she heard gunshots and then saw a long line of police cars streaming onto campus.

Wright, who lives off-campus, says she ran home to safety.

She hasn't been able to phone friends who live in UCA dorms.

She says they're texting her saying their buildings have been put on lock down and they've been told to stay off the phones.

Warwick Sabin, UCA vice president of communications, says one person in dead, two have been sent to the emergency room.

There are four suspects in the case, one of which has been apprehended.

Access to campus is limited.

KATV
Conway - A spokesperson for UCA campus police says one student is dead and two others injured after a shooting on campus around 9:30 Sunday night outside the Snow Fine Arts Building.

FROM WWW.UCA.EDU
Classes canceled Monday, October 27, 2008
October 26, 2008
President Courtway has canceled classes for Monday, October 27, 2008.

More information will be posted here as it becomes available.

11:25 PM
UPDATE: A call to the UCA campus police department finds that the campus is indeed locked down. The woman who answered the phone there said that she had been instructed by her superiors to tell any media representatives seeking information about the situation that they would have to come to the on-campus police station for more details. Way to keep the public informed, UCA.

UPDATE: Police now say they'll be holding a press conference on campus in the next 15 minutes, but won't offer any more information beyond that.

UPDATE: One person is dead and two others are receiving emergency treatment as a result of the shooting, a campus official tells the Times. No IDs available at this moment or circumstances surrounding the shootings as I write at 10:45 p.m. There are also reports that at least one person is in custody.

11:37 PM
CNN) -- Two people were killed and one wounded in a shooting at the University of Central Arkansas on Sunday, according to a hospital spokesman.

The shooting prompted a campus lockdown, a school official said.

One suspect was in custody and three others were being sought, police said in a recorded message.

One person died on the scene and the second died at Conway Regional Medical Center, a hospital spokesman said.

The third person was in stable condition at the hospital, the spokesman said.

11:44
NOTE: NOT OFFICIAL, NOT CONFIRMED
(Anonymous Source)I have also heard the names Chavarez Block (possibly Chavares Block?) and "Red" from one student in connection with the shooting, but I do not know any more than that.

11:45
UPDATE ON FOX RUN
Apparently the report is "hearing shots fired" which could or could not include the incident on campus. My estimation is that there was no actual incident at Fox Run.

Ryan Henderson also possibly victim

One source states that both the previously mentioned Block and Henderson are dead

According to Henderson's facebook profile, he has passed! He was born in 1990 in the Southside of Chicago! God bless his family! Suddenly Arkansas has become a scary place. My thoughts and prayers also go out to the Pressley family. My the Lord lift you up and you receive his graces!

We'd like to encourage discussion to flow as freely as possible on campus. If you have information or would like to express yourself, feel free to do so at the UCA student Newspapers website.

http://www.ucaecho.net/drupal/node/89

We'd like to encourage discussion to flow as freely as possible on campus. If you have information or would like to express yourself, feel free to do so at the UCA student Newspapers website.

http://www.ucaecho.net/drupal/node/89

My kid's friend at UCA says the talk on campus is this was a gang related fight. Again....who knows if that is the truth, but that is what the students at UCA are passing around.

Can't post on the Echo's site. It takes insanely long for the registration confirmation e-mail.

If there are problems with registration, check the 'Junk" e-mail section of your e-mail. Due to past maliciousness on the internet, most popular providers automatically 'junk' registration confirmations. Also, your friendly neighborhood web-editor is always happy to help.

The news hit the NY Times at 2:01 am click my name to read it. Sorry, posted this to the open line by mistake.

Now if only the other students had been carrying this could have been avoided.

.

If all students were issued Benelli R1 semi-automatics as well as Kevlar body armor with their student id's we could have ourselves good old fashioned urban warfare!

This is a new generation of students after all, why should all that virtual hand to hand training be wasted? These students should have the opportunity to apply all the skills they've practiced so long on their Play Stations.

The new status vehicle will be the armored Humvee.

My condolences to the UCA family, I am very sad for our loss. I just had a tree planted in memory of each victim so as the memory grow so will the trees. I did it at but there are a number of sites where it can be done

I was in the library when the shooting took place, not a word was spoken about it from anyone inside the library. My wife called at 10:03 and said that someone had been shot on the UCA campus and wanted to make sure I was okay. I told her I was fine but did not know of anything on campus. I left the library to see what I could find out and noticed several police cars, ambulances, and fire trucks arriving to the scene. There were sirens coming from all directions and the streets were littered with blue lights. Not knowing what to expect on the campus I decided to return to the library to wait on more information. I had only been gone from the library for a couple of minutes when I was told upon trying to re-enter that I was not allowed to come back into the library. I was only told that there was an emergency on campus and the library was closed until further notice. Left locked outside of the safe confines of the library to wonder if I would be the next victim of a VT type massacre in the dark of the UCA campus is not what I would call protecting the interest of the students. I agree that if I was so concerned that I should have waited in the library until I found out more but I do not see it fit that I was locked out of the building to deal with the uncertainties that lay before me in this time of distress. Thanks UCA for making sure I was safe and locking me out of the library to fend for myself.