Police Arrest Student In Fatal Shooting Near Edinboro U. Campus
EDINBORO, Pa. (KDKA) -- Police have arrested a student in connection with a fatal shooting near the campus of Edinboro University.
Police say 22-year-old Trey Gunter has been charged in the Monday night shooting that put the campus on lockdown.
The lockdown was in effect from 7:40 p.m. to 11:45 p.m.
Gunter, from Pittsburgh, was a student majoring in communications who lived off campus. He was was supposed to graduate in May, but is now facing criminal homicide, aggravated assault and reckless endangerment charges.
According to the criminal complaint, detectives believe the shooting stemmed from the theft of a weapon from Gunter's residence.
"I think it's surprising because they kept saying it wasn't a student and there was no student involvement," said Ashley Olinger, a student. "So I am surprised about that, and again, it's a small school, so I'm surprised it happened here of all places."
Police identify the victim as 22-year-old Tobiah Johnson, a former student who is also from the Pittsburgh area.
Edinboro Police say they believe Gunter and an unidentified man ambushed Johnson in a parking lot of an off-campus apartment along Water Street Monday night.
The criminal complaint reports witnesses say they punched Johnson, and then they beat him with a gun and shot him. In addition to the stolen gun, police believe drugs were also involved.
Police say they found Johnson lying just feet from rear door to the apartment. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
At the scene, police say they recovered, spent shell casings, a gun clip and shoe prints.
On their Facebook page, the university released this statement: "The Edinboro University community is thankful that the Edinboro Police moved quickly and deliberately in their investigation of the off-campus shooting on Monday night. The safety of our students and other members of our campus community is our top priority, and the arrest of a suspect today is a welcome development that eases the minds of many."
The university says their Student Code of Student Conduct gives them "the authority to immediately suspend any student who presents a danger to the campus community."
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