Shots-fired incidents near IUP campus under investigation; one suspect arrested
Saturday night prompted a scare for students at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, as two reports of shots-fired incidents went out within a little over an hour.
As of Sunday morning, the name of a suspect accused of firing some of those shots has been released.
Tymere Johnson, 22, is now in the Indiana County Jail after police say he fired off multiple shots at the annual "IUPatty's" celebration, an unsanctioned student celebration of St. Patrick's Day.
"Everybody was pretty scared. Everybody was running immediately," said student Zyan Howard.
Caution tape remained at the scene as of Sunday afternoon, but things have returned to normal as many cleaned up from the celebration.
Police say Johnson, from Clairton, fired five shots in the air at 8th and School Street, which is adjacent to campus and where students were partying.
Luckily, nobody was hurt. The university says Johnson is not a student.
"We certainly want visitors to be here, but we want them to respect our community and have lawful behaviors and not endanger the welfare of our community," said Michelle Fryling, the university's executive director of media relations and communications.
Police arrested Johnson minutes after he let off the rounds as he was trying to leave the area. Police also recovered the stolen gun.
"We understand this can be a very busy weekend. Our first responders and law enforcement have plans in place from year to year. We never let down our guard," Fryling added.
But it's still a shock for students.
"It makes me feel unsafe and not want to be here, but there's always dangerous stuff that happens, so you just have to be aware," Howard said.
Second shots-fired incident "unfounded," university says
The university alerted students to a second shots-fired report around 11 p.m. at a separate location. Officials say this report was inaccurate.
"That report was actually unjustified or unfounded that there was a second report of gunshots fired in the vicinity outside of the Indiana campus," Fryling said.
Johnson now faces charges, including possession of a stolen firearm, carrying a firearm without a license, and being a person not to possess a firearm.
The university also stresses that incidents like this are why they encourage students to sign up for the Everbridge alert system. They also say that although no one was hurt, support systems are available for students.
