4 months ago
SACRAMENTO, CA - Neither campus police nor Sacramento State University President Alexander Gonzalez would speculate on a motive behind the death of a 23-year-student Wednesday, allegedly at the hands of his 19-year-suitemate.
The victim was identified as Scott Hawkins, 23, of Sacramento. Hawkins died from blunt-force trauma, according to Gonzalez. Suspected in Hawkins' death is Quran Jones, 19, according to police investigators.
Jones was shot while attacking campus police following the fight in the students' room in the American River Courtyard residence hall, campus police said.
SLIDESHOW: Sacramento State Attack, Dorm Lockdown
Gonzalez said in a Thursday afternoon news conference that to his knowledge, Jones was not talking about the attack.
Jones remains at UC Davis Medical Center in stable condition following surgery Wednesday night. He has been arrested for attempted murder on a police officer and an open count of homicide, according to the university.
Hawkins was pronounced dead a short time after the attack that happened between 2 and 2:30 Wednesday afternoon.
Sacramento State police Chief Dan Davis said officers arrived on the scene after other students reported a disturbance in the first-floor dorm room.
Davis said officers found an agitated Jones armed with an 8-inch, single-edge knife and ordered him to drop the weapon. Davis said the officers fired a pepperball gun at Jones.
"It was not effective and the suspect kept coming at the officers with the knife," Davis said.
Davis said that was when at least one officer opened fire on Jones. It was not known how many times Jones was hit. Davis said Thursday that officers fired three times.
SLIDESHOW: Sac State dorm locked down after police shooting; 10/21/09, 4 p.m.
Both officers involved in the shooting were placed on paid administrative leave, Davis said.
Hawkins was found unconscious on the dorm room floor. He was transported to UC Davis Medical Center where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
Soon after the attack, Sacramento Police Department Sgt. Norm Leong said Jones had used a baseball bat during the attack. Later, Sacramento State authorities could not confirm a bat was used.
University officials said Thursday that dorm counselors had no previous record of problems between Jones and Hawkins and the three other male students who were assigned to a first-floor suite in the dorm with a common kitchen. The three other students were being assigned to other rooms in the dorm, according to the university.
"It was an isolated incident and the campus is safe," Davis said.
American River Courtyard was cordoned off for about an hour, but students were allowed back in the dorm by 4:30 p.m.
The university said grief counselors would remain available to students.
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