By the governor's order, flags are flying at half-staff Friday on state property to honor a Fort Valley State University freshman who was fatally stabbed this week.
Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal ordered the action in memory of Donnell M. Phelps, who died after being stabbed several times Tuesday on campus. Phelps, from Marshallville, was attacked when he intervened to help three women who were being harassed, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said.
"Mr. Phelps will be remembered for the heroic actions he displayed through aiding and preventing the assault and possible deaths of three women, of which resulted in a senseless and tragic loss of his own life," Deal said in a statement issued Thursday and posted Friday on his Twitter account.
Deal’s order applies to the Georgia and U.S. flags, and will be in effect until sunset.
The governor made a similar order with the flags on April 28 to honor four University of Georgia students who died in a vehicle collision in Oconee County.
Phelps came to the aid of the women when they were leaving the campus cafeteria, the GBI said. A former student, identified as Joseph Anthony Scott Jr., was touching the women “in a very inappropriate way,” GBI agent J.T. Ricketson said. Scott has been charged with murder in connection with the attack on Phelps.
Also, a Fort Valley State University campus security officer who was injured in the on-campus stabbing is now recovering at home.
Scott, 25, allegedly stabbed Officer Earnest Johnson seven times, the university said. Scott has been charged with aggravated assault in connection with the attack on Johnson.
Johnson was stationed in a guard booth at the main entrance to the university when he was attacked, the university said. After allegedly stabbing Phelps, Scott fled to the main entrance. There, Scott tapped on the guard station to approach Johnson, who was unaware of the previous attack, according to the release.
When Johnson opened the station door, Scott began stabbing him with a knife before passerby Donovan Coley, a campus intern coordinator, stopped the attack, the university and GBI officials said.
Johnson, who has been an employee since 2014, will need some time to recover from his injuries, Fort Valley State police Chief Kenneth Morgan said.
“He is on his way and we are keeping him in our prayers,” Morgan said.
Fort Valley State is located about 100 miles south of Atlanta.
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