4 Injured After Shooting Outside Halloween Party On USC Campus
EXPOSITION PARK (CBSLA.com) — Four people were hospitalized after a shooting at a Halloween party on the USC campus Wednesday night.
The incident happened around 11:30 p.m. outside of a party sponsored by the Black Student Assembly at the Ronald Tutor Campus Center, officials said. The event was open to the public.
"There were two individuals that came on campus that were involved in an argument. One of those individuals pulled a gun and fired at the person he was arguing with and struck him multiple times," Los Angeles Police Department Commander Bob Green said. "During that shooting, some of the rounds he fired hit three unintended victims on campus."
All four victims and the suspected shooter are not associated with USC, Green said.
"The shooting incident on UPC campus did not involve any faculty, staff or students of USC," the university said in a Trojan Alert.
"University policy requires that any student parties on campus be open only to guests with student IDs from USC or another university," Vice President for Student Affairs Michael L. Jackson said in a statement.
KNX 1070's Jon Baird reports the intended target, who was taken to the hospital for surgery and is expected to survive, has been identified by law enforcement sources as former Crenshaw High School football star Geno Hall.
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The three other victims have non-life threatening injuries and are also being treated at a local hospital.
Following the shooting, the suspect and another person fled toward a parking structure.
Campus public safety officers "witnessed the shooting and apprehended two suspects as they fled the scene."
No arrests have been made.
"Based on the current witness statements we have at this point, the detectives have developed enough to make an arrest. . . I anticipate they will book one of these individuals for attempted murder," Green said.
Police are investigating whether the second person in custody was involved.
"Depending on how the investigation plays out this morning . . . that individual will either be released or he will ultimately be arrested also," Green said.
The campus was placed on lockdown for approximately three hours while police investigated.
"Whenever you have open parties and bring folks on campus, from anywhere, it's a real security challenge," Green said.
USC President Max Nikias said the university plans to carefully asses and review their protocol for event security.
A gun was recovered at the scene, which authorities believe was used during the shooting.
Classes will resume as normal Thursday.
Wednesday's shooting happened just six months after two international USC students were shot and killed near campus in April.
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