In an effort to provide the most comprehensive, reliable and up-to-date information about the shooting incident that occurred during the evening of Sunday, Oct. 26, 2008, on the campus of the University of Central Arkansas, UCA will release as much information as possible on its homepage at www.uca.edu.
UPDATE (Oct. 27, 10:30 p.m.): The UCA Police Department this evening is transferring the four suspects in Sunday’s shooting incident to the Faulkner County Detention Center, where they will be detained pending charges.
The Faulkner County Prosecutor is expected to file charges against the suspects by 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 28.
The suspects are:
Kawin Brockman of Conway, Black male, DOB 9-20-89
Kelcey Perry of Morrilton, Black male, DOB 4-14-89
Mario Toney of Little Rock, Black male, DOB 3-24-88
Brandon Wade of Lake Village, Black male, DOB 8-19-88
Perry is the fourth and final suspect to turn himself in to the UCA Police Department.
The UCAPD and the Faulkner County Prosecutor’s Office will hold a press conference after the charges are filed.
UPDATE (Oct. 27, 4:30 p.m.): The UCA Police Department has announced that it has detained a third suspect believed to have been involved in the shooting incident.
No arrests have been made yet, but the UCAPD is optimistic that the fourth and final suspect will be brought in soon.
UCA police officials are working with the Faulkner County Prosecutor to formalize charges in the case.
UPDATE (Oct. 27, 12:45 p.m.): UCA further identifies the student victims as Chavares Block, 19, a sophomore pre-engineering major from Dermott who first enrolled at UCA in Fall 2007; and Ryan Henderson, 18, a freshman from Little Rock with an undeclared major. Block lived off campus, and Henderson lived in Arkansas Hall.
Counseling for UCA students, faculty and staff is available through the UCA Counseling Center at four campus locations:
State Hall
Arkansas Hall (1st Floor Study Room Mini Lobby)
Harrin Hall (Room 117)
The UCA Counseling Center (Student Health Center, Suite 327)
Two events have been organized to mourn the loss of Chavares Block and Ryan Henderson:
A candlelight memorial arranged by the UCA Student Government Association will take place tonight at 5 p.m. at the UCA Fountain.
A prayer vigil will take place tomorrow at 1:40 p.m. at Ida Waldran Auditorium on behalf of all religious registered student organizations.
Also, Keeping a Child Alive will be in the UCA Student Center all day tomorrow distributing ribbons in memory of the students who lost their lives.
UPDATE (Oct. 27, 9:45 a.m.): UCA held a press conference at 9 a.m. Central time at the Brewer-Hegeman Conference Center on the UCA campus.
The identities of the two deceased UCA students were released: Ryan Henderson, 18, of Little Rock, and Chavares Block, 19, of Dermott.
The other victim, who is not a UCA student, is Martrevis Norman of Blytheville.
The lead investigator for the case, UCAPD Lt. Preston Grumbles, confirmed that four suspects are believed to have been involved in the shooting, and two are now in custody. No UCA students are suspects. Grumbles said the incident does not appear to be random. He expressed confidence that the location of the other two suspects has been identified.
Grumbles said numerous shots were fired during the incident, but investigators are not prepared to reveal the type of weapon used.
UCA interim president Tom Courtway announced that classes at UCA will resume tomorrow, Tuesday, Oct. 28.
NEWS SUMMARY (Oct. 27, 3 a.m.)
The UCA Police Department received a call at 9:19 p.m. reporting shots fired. At the same time, a UCA police officer heard the shots and responded immediately.
The first two UCAPD officers were on the scene of the shooting at 9:19 p.m. The incident occurred outdoors between Arkansas Hall and the Snow Fine Arts Center.
The first MEMS ambulance arrived on scene at 9:28 p.m., and the first Conway Fire Department vehicle was on scene at 9:30 p.m.
One victim, a UCA student, was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other injured victims were transported to Conway Regional Medical Center. One of those victims, also a UCA student, died at the hospital. The other victim, who was not a UCA student, was treated and eventually released from the hospital.
The names of the victims will not be released until their relatives are notified.
UCA residence halls and the UCA Student Center were immediately locked down after the incident was reported. However, the UCA campus itself is not locked down, although officers are posted at every campus entrance, and access to campus is limited to residents and authorized personnel. [UPDATE: Access to the UCA campus is open.]
All 25 UCAPD officers were immediately dispatched. The UCAPD’s automated alert system was initiated, and every residence hall was contacted by telephone to instruct officials to secure the facilities and restrict access to the buildings. E-mails were sent to UCA student, faculty and staff e-mail systems, as well as the Safe@UCA e-mail listserv. A notification also was posted on the UCA homepage at www.uca.edu, as well as the UCAPD website at www.ucapd.com.
The UCAPD is conducting a joint investigation with the Conway Police Department and the Faulkner County Sheriff’s Office.
A person of interest has been detained, although that person is not under arrest at this time.
Classes are canceled at UCA for Monday, Oct. 27, 2008. However, the campus is open and UCA faculty and staff can report to work.
