Man shot in attempted robbery near Fayetteville State University

The victim, identified as 21-year-old Bransford Elmore, was struck in the buttocks. He was taken to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, where he was listed in stable condition.

A Fayetteville State spokesman said Tuesday that Elmore told police he might have accidentally fired his own handgun when he reached into his back pocket.

Elmore told officers that two men were about to rob him as he approached the breezeway at University Place Apartments, off Coley Drive and Murchison Road. He turned and ran, heard gunshots, and realized he was shot.

Fayetteville State student Antoine Morgan said he heard the gunshots in the apartment complex, which is across from the university and is contracted to provide housing for students only.

"I came outside, and I smelled the gunshot smoke," Morgan said.

No suspects have been named. Police recovered a small-caliber handgun near the scene.

The university has an emergency notification system to let students know when incidents such as a shooting occur, but the alert system was not activated after Sunday's shooting.

"It's not good. They need to notify students so that everybody can be safe," Morgan said.

Fayetteville State police responded to the shooting, and their first priority was securing the scene and making sure everyone else was safe, Fayetteville State spokesman Jeffrey Womble said.

He said that the shooting can serve as a reminder to students about safety.

"It is unfortunate that it happened, but this will allow us to convey to our students the importance of being safe and being familiar with their surroundings," Womble said.

Fayetteville State began classes on Thursday.