Media Contact
William Inman
Executive Editor
Public Relations and Marketing Communications
[email protected]
Dear Panther community,
I want to provide further information about the Clery Act Safety Alert sent earlier today about a shooting on Piedmont Avenue and give as much additional context as I can about this tragic incident.
Atlanta Police are investigating a fight between two groups that quickly escalated into gunfire near the RaceTrac service station around 12:30 p.m. this afternoon. One of the people involved in the fight was struck by gunfire and killed. None of the parties involved have been identified as GSU students or staff. The off-duty police officer added earlier this year inside the RaceTrac was on the scene and responded immediately.
Our campus leadership and public safety officers send our sympathy and condolences to the family of the victim. While the individuals involved were not affiliated with the university, we know these acts of violence affect us all, especially those that happen in close proximity to our campus facilities. Just after the incident, I debriefed with leadership at the RaceTrac and with city leadership, and our GSU Chief of Police maintains close contact with the Atlanta Police Department. We have made recent enhancements that added more officer monitoring and cameras, reoriented our building entrances and provided staff training, and we will assess this incident to make more impactful changes. We will continue to make strides in enhancing and defining our campus and securing our spaces. You have my commitment in continuing our proactive safety operations and to keeping our entire community informed.
Sincerely,
M. Brian Blake
President