Jackson State University student dies after a shooting on campus. Classes canceled Monday
A Jackson State University student was fatally shot on the west side of campus late Sunday evening, school officials said.
According to the university, Jaylen Burns, an industrial technology major from Chicago, was transported to a hospital from campus after the shooting at the University Pointe Apartment Complex.
As a result, school officials canceled Monday classes.
Burns was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and president of the C100 Chapter at Jackson State University, an affiliate of the 100 Black Men of America.
In a campus news release, JSU's Acting President Elayne Hayes-Anthony said the university's thoughts and prayers are with Burn's loved ones.
Additional security is on site to ensure the safety of students, faculty and staff, Hayes-Anthony said, in addition to encouraging students to carry their JSU identification at all times.
“We grieve the tragic loss of his life due to this senseless act of violence," Hayes-Anthony said. "The safety of our students and campus community remains our priority. We are committed to addressing any threats to the security of this campus with the utmost care and attention.”
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Both the Jackson Police Department and Capitol Police are assisting in the investigation in an effort to apprehend a person of interest.
In response to the shooting, Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba said he asks all Jackson residents to pray for the Burns family.
"We recognize the family and the loss of life of the JSU student, Jaylen Burns," Mayor Lumumba said at a Monday press conference. "We join not only his family in condolences and our grief over their loss, but the entire JSU family."
This is the second shooting in connection to Jackson State University over the past homecoming weekend.
On Saturday night, two individuals not affiliated with the university, according the JSU's X, formerly known as Twitter, fired shots on Dalton Street at Jackson State University. One suffered non-life-threatening injuries with a gunshot wound to the leg.
According to the Jackson Police Department, based on its current knowledge, no connection is believed to be between the two shootings.
The JPD said additional information would have to come from Jackson State University Department of Public Safety.
At this time, the identity of the suspect and victim regarding the Saturday night shooting has not been released nor have any arrests been made.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Jackson MS State student dies in shooting on university apartment complex
