Two students dead in UCA shooting

A fellow Arkansas university was shaken Sunday night by the chilling sound of gunshots that left two students dead and sent one non-student to the hospital.

The University of Central Arkansas, a mere two and a half hours away from ASU, lost the lives of Chavares Block, 19, of Dermott and Ryan Henderson, 18, of Little Rock after a shooting on campus. Martrevis Norman of Blytheville was treated at Conway Regional Medical Center and later released.

Kwmane Gorins, 19, an ASU sophomore theatre arts major of Dermott, graduated in the same class as Block.

"I grew up with Chavares, and to know someone since the 3rd grade, and to see him mature, evolve and excel with everything that he put his hands on and to see him go off to college and do things only for the betterment of himself and then for someone to come along with such animosity to actually take the life of a random person that they have no ties to is more than disturbing," Gorins said. "My condolences go out to the Block and the Henderson families."

Other students were also upset about the incident.

Lauren Carpenter, a junior communication disorders major of Jonesboro, attended UCA before transferring to ASU and said she is shocked about the shooting.

"I always felt safe on that campus," Carpenter said. "I went everywhere alone, and I always saw police patrolling. I never felt unsafe at all, and it seemed like the campus was pretty well protected."

For students at ASU, programs and help are available for those afraid of a similar event happening at the ASU campus.

Any student feeling afraid or stressed about these events can contact the ASU counseling center at 972-2318 for treatment and guidance.

UPD offers an active shooter presentation as an awareness mechanism for faculty and students. The one hour and 15 minute course is aimed at first-year students and helps to create a survival mindset in a shooting event, according to a UPD press release.

ASU has also experienced past shootings, with one taking place Sept. 13. ASU student and employee Patrick G. Rice, 21, of Little Rock faces charges of second-degree battery and possession of a firearm on school property in the campus shooting that sent one student to St. Bernards Medical Center for a gunshot wound in his arm.

Those registered with the campus Emergency Alert System were notified of the shooting by text message early Sept. 13 and later received a second text message announcing the arrest.

The Emergency Alert System was installed during the fall 2007 semester.

UCA also alerted its community of the shooting through the UCA Police Department's automated alert system.

Every residence hall was contacted by telephone, and e-mails were sent to students, faculty and staff, as well as the Safe@UCA e-mail listserv.

Four suspects have been charged in the UCA shooting, which occurred around 9:19 p.m. Sunday between Arkansas Hall and the Snow Fine Arts building.

Kawin Brockman of Conway, Kelcey Perry of Morrilton, Mario Toney of Little Rock and Brandon Wade of Lake Village each are charged with two counts of capital murder, one count of attempted capital murder, eight counts of terroristic act and one count each of possession of firearms by certain persons, discharge of a firearm from car and possession of a handgun on public school property.

UCA residence halls and the UCA Student Center were placed under strict lock-down Sunday night and Monday classes were cancelled.

"I went for a walk around campus on Monday and it was deserted," Kelly Howell, a UCA freshman of Marvel, said. "Everyone was really freaking out last night, including myself. Some people are saying we freaked out over nothing, and that this wasn't a big deal, but it was."

Howell said, "A tragedy happened at our school, at our home. It's not something you can brush off your shoulders."