Student shot at EMU hall

An Eastern Michigan University student was shot late yesterday afternoon and remains in fair condition at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor.

Aaron Patterson, a 25-year-old EMU sophomore, was shot twice in the chest at 5:40 p.m in front of Margaret Wise Hall on EMU’s campus in Ypsilanti.

Marc Brock, a building director at EMU, said campus and state police are currently investigating the shooting. As of early this morning, EMU Department of Public Safety police would not say whether they had apprehended any suspects.

“I thought it was a cap gun at first,” said EMU sophomore Amy Peterson, who witnessed the shooting while she was outside talking to friends. “Then I heard three more shots and saw people running everywhere. It happened so fast.”

Peterson said she saw “a couple of” people leave the scene in a white four-door utility vehicle. Within 30 seconds, a police car chased after the vehicle, she said.

EMU first-year student Mike Papsidero said he heard several shots from his room in a residence hall located near the crime scene.

“We just saw kind of what was happening afterward,” Papsidero said. “It was pretty quick. There were a few shots.”

In an offcial statement released last night, EMU police said the incident was not a random act of violence.

Papsidero said he was told that several bystanders were almost injured in the shooting.

“I guess a couple of kids almost got hit by the bullets,” said Papsidero, adding that the incident occured in an area where mostly first-year students live.

An EMU student, who identified herself as a close friend of Patterson, said the shooting likely resulted from a case of mistaken identity.

“He was driving his friend’s truck,” said the student, who asked not to be named. “I think it was caused by jealousy ... It might have been a beef that was already started.”

Peterson said the campus police were quick to respond to the incident.

“The one reassuring part of the whole incident was that 20 seconds after the shooting, a cop came to ask if everything was OK,” she said.

Some EMU students said they were shocked about the shooting.

“I’m from the suburbs,” said EMU sophomore David Pelk. “Nothing like that had ever happened. It was really shocking.”

Many students, Pelk said, were not as stunned as he was by the shooting.

“They aren’t as surprised as you would think they would be after a shooting on campus,” Pelk said. “A lot of them are just using it as an excuse to get on television.”

Papsidero said that although he was surprised by yesterday’s events, he felt reassured that the incident was not a random act of violence.

“I’m kind of upset that it’s here right in front of me, but I’m not worried anymore,” Papsidero said.

An official at the Ann Arbor Police Department last night said the department was not officially notified of the incident, and backup from AAPD was not requested.

Brock said EMU has increased security measures on campus, and counselors will be available throughout the day at (313) 487-4400. EMU has set up an information hotline with official updates regarding the shooting at (313) 487-3700.

10-07-97