2 Face Charges After Gun Scare on Rocky Mount College Campus

Vertron Dickens allegedly showed up with a gun Wednesday evening at Wesleyan College and fired a shot while looking for a group of people who spit on his girlfriend's car.

Posted 8:42 p.m. Mar 27, 2008 — Updated 12:42 a.m. Mar 28, 2008

ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — A man wanted in connection with reports of a gun on the campus of North Carolina Wesleyan College surrendered Thursday evening.

Investigators said Vertron Dickens, 22, of Whitaker, showed up with a shotgun Wednesday evening looking for several people involved in an altercation with his girlfriend, Joy Anthony, a student at the private Rocky Mount institution.

Anthony told police that Dickens, who is not a student, drove through campus and, on occasion, held a shotgun out the car's window. He also fired at least one shot in a Food Lion parking lot about 100 yards from the campus, she said.

Police issued an arrest warrant for Dickens. He went to police Thursday afternoon.

Dickens has been charged with bringing a gun on a school campus and with firing shots inside the city limits.

Police said they are also investigating others for possible involvement. Anthony, 18, of 143 Redmond Dr. in Enfield, is also charged with one count of inciting a riot and one count of obstructing or delaying an officer.

Based on their interview with Anthony, police said Dickens was looking to retaliate against those who harassed Anthony and spit on her car.

Rocky Mount police said they received a call at 5:23 p.m. Wednesday reporting an argument involving about 10 people in a parking lot at the rear of the campus. About an hour later, someone on campus reported hearing a gunshot.

Upon investigating both reports, police found no evidence of either and no witnesses. Authorities said a student came forward Thursday morning and identified Anthony as the student involved in the argument.

The school was never on lockdown and students were not notified because school officials were not aware of the incident until Thursday morning, officers said.

Police said school administrators might take action against any other students involved in the alleged incident.

"Although the security and safety of our campus was maintained throughout these incidents, it is incumbent on the college to deal forcefully with those who fail to recognize their obligations to live peaceably in an academic environment," Wesleyan College President Dr. Ian Newbould said in a statement.

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