Report: Waynesburg University students among those shot, injured at Indiana-area party
Oct. 11—INDIANA, Pa. — Three of the people who were injured in a mass shooting on Sunday in Indiana County were Waynesburg University students, Washington County newspaper The Observer-Reporter reported.
The Observer-Reporter's story said that Stacey Brodak, Waynesburg University's vice president for institutional advancement and university relations, confirmed in a statement that the three students at the Greene County university were among the injured.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of the individuals involved," Brodak reportedly said. "We wish these victims and their families strength and comfort as they deal with this tragic event. Out of respect for the privacy of these individuals, we have no further comment at this time."
Two other people injured in the shooting were Indiana University of Pennsylvania students, the school has said.
The students are among at least nine people who were shot during a private party at the Chevy Chase Community Center in White Township, which is close to Indiana Borough, IUP and Indiana Area School District buildings.
As of Tuesday, one person had died as a result of the shooting — 22-year-old Jamar Montae Porterfield Herriot Jr., of Homestead, Allegheny County. Indiana County Coroner Jerry Overman Jr. pronounced Herriot dead at the scene and has ruled his death a homicide, with the cause pending autopsy results.
Gunfire rang out after 12:30 a.m. Sunday at the center as state police mounted units arrived to monitor the party due to the number of people in attendance.
Police confirmed on Sunday that multiple shooters were involved in the incident and that dozens of shots were fired.
Authorities have said that thousands of pieces of evidence have been collected and they are still searching for the identities of the perpetrators and the cause of the shooting.
The injured victims were treated at hospitals in Indiana, Cambria and Allegheny counties. State police said that two of the injured had been released on Sunday. The other six were still hospitalized as of Tuesday — one of whom is an 18-year-old from Chicago who is in critical condition.
Everyone who was shot was between the ages of 18 and 23.
Aside from the Chicago resident and an 18-year-old from Florida who was injured, the rest lived in Pennsylvania, according to authorities.
IUP has made support available to students in the days since the incident, and on Tuesday school officials told students that the next update on the shooting will come when new details are made available by state police.
Additionally, the website www.iup.edu/police has been established to provide information about the shooting, and an open session for students seeking support will be held Wednesday on campus.
Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are offering a combined $15,000 reward to anyone who can identify the gunmen. Anyone with information should contact state police at 724-357-1960.
