Georgia Tech student launches fundraiser to aid campus cops

A Georgia Tech student has launched an online fundraising effort to aid campus police officers affected by Monday night's riots. What began as a peaceful vigil in memory of fellow student Scout Schultz devolved into mayhem and a police cruiser was set ablaze.

"Two GTPD officers were injured in the ensuing melees and two GTPD cruisers were torched," wrote Phillip Yamin, an e lectrical engineering major in the class of 2019, who started the online effort. It's so far raised about $2,000.

A group of Tech students plans to clean up the campus this morning.

"The majority of Georgia Tech students do not support these violent protests," student Nuala Hutton said in an email to the AJC. "Scout's friends and the vigil attendees were advocating for changes to mental health policy on campus when the protesters showed up and started calling for violence. The vigil was entirely separate from the protests, and it was intended to memorialize and honor Scout. This is not our community. We are still grieving."

Here's the link to the Facebook page where students are signing up to volunteer their time.

"We are NOT political," Hutton said. "We are simply coming together to heal our campus community. We want the Georgia Tech police, counseling center, and administration to come together and ultimately ensure student safety."

The AJC's Nelson Helm reports that two police officers were injured. Three people were arrested and charged with inciting a riot and battery of an officer. They were identified by authorities as Vincent Castillenti, Jacob Wilson, and Cassandra Monden. It was not immediately clear if they were students at Tech.

Schultz' parents held a news conference on Monday and say they plan to file suit.

"Why did you have to shoot?" Bill Schultz asked at a news conference Monday. "That's the only question that matters right now. Why did you kill my son?"

Tech declined to comment, referring all questions to the GBI.

PAST COVERAGE: Suicide notes found in Scout Schultz' room

Credit: Jennifer Brett

Credit: Jennifer Brett

The AJC's Christian Boone reports that Schultz called 911, alerting authorities "of a suspicious person on campus." In the call, Schultz describes the person as "a white male, with long blonde hair, white T-shirt and blue jeans who is possibly intoxicated, holding a knife and possibly armed with a gun on his hip," the GBI said in a statement.

Credit: Jennifer Brett

Yamin's Go Fund Me page describes Schultz' death as a "tragic suicide."

He is president of Tech's Marksmanship Club, whose members have a close relationship with campus police "to ensure that we follow the strictest procedures on firearm safety; we have also known them as acquaintances and even friends.