A stray bullet shatters a dorm window at NCCU, one student injured
One student was injured in Saturday night’s scare at North Carolina Central University in Durham.
An NCCU alert sent to students said an unknown person discharged a firearm in the area of the 1900 block of Fayeteville Street just before 11 p.m.
The bullet hit a third floor window at Benjamin Ruffin Hall. A student was slightly injured by shattered glass from the gunfire. While some students said the gun violence is nothing new, they believe the crime in Durham is getting too close for comfort.
In the midst of the pandemic, a college dorm room is supposed to be considered a safe space for students “Especially with what’s going on.. and you have to worry about gun violence. And so much is going on where we’re trying to stay safe from the virus," said senior Deven Palmer.
Saturday night, students had to protect themselves from stray bullets.
“It was a loud boom over and over again. It sounded like 30 shots," said Jourdan Davis and Dayonna Goodlatt.
They are roommates who stay in Ruffin Hall. They believed it was a drive-by shooting so they ducked for cover on the floor, fearing for their lives.
"Just please stop. We are very young trying to live our lives and get an education and we just want to enjoy campus as much as we can," said Davis.
The university alerted students immediately. Police said there is no indication the residence hall was targeted. The university tells us “there is no ongoing threat to the campus community.”
“The central security does a pretty good job in protecting its students. Some things are just out of control," said NCCU Junior Nicolas Fennell.
But some students are concerned for their safety because the school is an open campus.
“It’s not safe. I feel like anyone can just walk right through this campus," added Palmer.
“We’re starting to leave and go into our residential halls by 9 o clock just to keep ourselves safe," said NCCU Junior Nia Tillery.
The NCCU police department is investigating the shooting along with Durham Police. A suspect has not been identified. Lora Lavigne WRAL News Durham.
