February 11, 2009 3:20 PM

College Student Shot Dead, Car Torched

(CBS/AP)  An Auburn University student was found fatally shot on a highway just before her car was discovered in flames on campus, several miles away.

Auburn police were investigating Tuesday's death of Lauren Burk as a homicide but made no immediate arrests.

"As soon as we know more we might release it, but what information we have now we're holding it close to our chest," police Capt. Tom Stofer said.

University officials advised students in an e-mail around noon Wednesday that there was "no indication of additional danger to campus or student safety." But the school said the police presence on campus had been increased.

Burk, an 18-year-old freshman from Marietta, Ga., was found wounded on Alabama Highway 147 around 9 p.m. Tuesday, and Auburn police said her Honda Civic was found engulfed in flames at the campus about 20 minutes later. She died Tuesday night at a hospital.

Gov. Bob Riley's office is offering a $10,000 reward in the case, Stofer said.

Confusion and shock spread throughout campus quickly Wednesday morning, the Auburn Plainsman reported.

"I want to know what caused it, because obviously she was targeted," Jeni Young, a freshman in special education, told the newspaper.

An on-campus prayer vigil for Burk was being organized by her friends, and a memorial was being planned by her sorority, Delta Gamma.

"Delta Gammas across the country offer hope and friendship to Lauren's family and all who have been affected by this tragedy," the sorority's national office said in a statement.


© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Add a Comment See all 233 Comments
by twogunsono1g March 7, 2008 8:32 PM EST
OH,where oh, where has schoolmast1 gone.I warned her this morning ,but would she listen,nooooo,.Another win for all us gun nutz,and as she would say, LOL !!!LOL!!!
Reply to this comment
by gunnerv1 March 7, 2008 6:44 PM EST
Schoolmast1 You''re really going to love me when I tell you to go to "YOUTUBE". Could be this weekend could be next week, depends on how loaded this weekend will be, might be more snow
Reply to this comment
by billorights March 7, 2008 4:35 PM EST
Are you just as honored to have a dedicated crew of people in white coats chasing you from room to room with butterfly nets?
Reply to this comment
by gunnerv1 March 7, 2008 3:37 PM EST
I am your worst nightmare.
I am everything that you hate.
I am a Gun Owner.
I am an American Fighting Man.
I am a Middle Class Conservative and,
I vote Gun issues.
I donate to the Politican of my choice,
not party.
I count myself among the Brave Men and Women
of this Great Nation that will stand up and
fight for what is right.
I will fight for my Fellow Man.
I will fight for those who are weak and tired.
I will fight for my Country and its causes.
I will fight for the Colors of this Free Nation.
I hope that the 50 Stars and 13 Stripes remain,
but I despair that there may soon be a New Flag
over these 50 states.
Long live Free
Reply to this comment
by twogunsono1g March 7, 2008 3:34 PM EST
Schoolmast1 is female, Only a woman can blather on endlessly as she does.Say no all you want, But you are a girly girl !!
Reply to this comment
by gunnerv1 March 7, 2008 3:28 PM EST
"American Citizens are prohibited from acquiring, possessing, and carrying firearms and ammunition, as well as truncheons or stabbing weapons. Those now possessing weapons and ammunition are at once to turn them over to the local police authority.
Firearms and ammunition found in a Citizen''s possession will be forfeited to the government without compensation. Whoever willfully or negligently violates the provisions...will be punished with imprisonment and a fine.
Regulations Against U.S. Citizens Possession of Weapons, January 23, 2009, Democratic Minister of the Interior.

As published from the Democratic Party Manifesto, January 21,2009
IT''s Coming, and you saw it here first. Sign up for the coming civil war soon.
Reply to this comment
by billorights March 7, 2008 2:48 PM EST
I have also read extensively on the holocaust and no reputable historian blames it on the lack of guns in the Jewish population. Posted by USBrit

Are you implying that the prevalence of gas chambers caused the holocaust?
Reply to this comment
by usbrit-2009 March 7, 2008 1:24 PM EST
I would never say her problem was she did not have a gun and should have. The problem is there is too much violence. Guns are sometimes used in this violence. How do we stop the violence greybeard?

Posted by guysdigdirt

I agree. What I don''t see is anyone from the gun-hugging side coming up with any answer than arm the whole country. Then we''ll all have to stay indoors because every argument will be settled with a shooting.
Reply to this comment
by usbrit-2009 March 7, 2008 1:22 PM EST
Schoolmast1 - Remember the poster who "outed" you said he''d been informed of your identity by a high ranking person at CBS. I suggest CBS out him/her asap otherwise blogs(?) like this will be useless.
Reply to this comment
by usbrit-2009 March 7, 2008 12:27 PM EST
I actually hope that anyone with an inclination to do so will google all of this info. and enlighten everyone as to whether or not it''''s accurate. I''''m sure everyone is only interested in the truth, if there are discrepancies, by all means, straighten it out, but don''''t just argue about it because you don''''t like what it says. Hmm... Hmm... (USBRIT)

Posted by deemsnyd

Well I see we''re back at it bright and early this morning. The reason I go on about numbers, and no I don''t know about Australia yet, is that the numbers in the US are just much higher than anywhere outside of South Africa and South America. So you can say Great Britain''s gun deaths rose by 20% last year sounds bad. A rise from 48 to 56 says what are you worried about. Per capita you are between 50 and 100 times more likely to be killed by a gun in the US than the UK.

I have also read extensively on the holocaust and no reputable historian blames it on the lack of guns in the Jewish population.

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