Bloombsburg University Reviews Tighter Security for Events

Jan. 31, 2007
School reviewing security, possibility of metal detectors after student event lead to gunshots

Jan. 30--BLOOMSBURG -- A brawl that led to at least one shot fired after a student event at Bloomsburg University early Sunday morning has school officials debating whether to increase security for large-scale events.

The fight between two women attending a student dance started shortly before 2 a.m. near the Kehr Union, said Liza Benedict, the university's director of communications. Some men became involved and the disagreement escalated into a physical fight, then gunshots, Benedict said.

The Nite Class Dance Club is a non-alcoholic function occasionally held in the Kehr Union that features a DJ and door prizes. Admission is free for BU students, but non-students are required to pay a small admission fee, according to the university's Web site.

Two university police officers were at the dance, which early estimates show between 150 and 200 people in attendance. It is unclear how many non-students attended the dance.

Benedict said the university made the decision last fall to require security at student events, but officials will now consider putting additional measures, including metal detectors, in place for large events at the union.

"We now have to think is that enough?" she said. "We need to see if we should assign a certain amount of security for a certain amount of people."

University police recovered a 9mm bullet casing near the site of the shooting, Benedict said, but no arrest was made in the shooting as of Monday afternoon.

Police did arrest Kevin Light, 19, Milton, on charges of resisting arrest, assaulting police officer, disorderly conduct stemming from the brawl, Benedict said. An officer was forced to spray Light in the face with mace to subdue him.

Copyright (c) 2007, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Times Leader Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.