As the investigation continued into a double shooting on campus, the Georgia State University president announced the search would begin for a new police chief.
"We are beginning the search for an experienced law enforcement professional whose sole focus will be campus safety," GSU President Mark Becker said in a campus-wide email Tuesday afternoon.
The move came the day after two people, including one Georgia State student, exchanged gunfire in a dormitory parking lot during a suspected drug deal. Both were recovering from gunshot wounds Tuesday at Grady Memorial Hospital, and both have been charged, police said Tuesday.
A series of crimes on campus and nearby in recent months, including robberies at the library and a shooting outside a Forsyth Street restaurant, had already made safety a priority for students and employees.
In addition to finding a new police chief, Becker said the university would immediately change the process for sending emergency alerts to the campus community.
“Many students and parents expressed concern they first heard about the incident on the news rather than from their own university,” Becker said. “I am disappointed we did not promptly and effectively communicate what was happening last night as information became available.”
Connie Sampson, associate vice president for university police and building services, will now focus on building services. During a search for a new chief, Deputy Chief Carlton Mullis will serve as acting chief, Becker said.
Around 9:30 Monday night, Tanner Carter had a paper to write, and her roommate needed to study for an American Government test. But a phone call distracted both of the Georgia State freshman.
“We opened the door to our room and saw cop cars, an ambulance and police searching the area,” Shanice Brown, Carter’s roommate, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “We were about to start studying and then all this.”
The parking lot outside their dorm room at Piedmont North became a crime scene, and students gathered outside to watch events unfold. What police believe started as either a drug deal or sneaker sale led to gunfire, investigators said. Two people, including one Georgia State student, exchanged fire and both were shot, according to Mullis.
Investigators spent Tuesday piecing together what led to the shooting. But two of three people believed involved were recovering at Grady Memorial Hospital, leaving investigators with more questions than answers, Mullis said.
Bryan Rhoden, 18, lives in the University Commons building at the intersection of Piedmont Avenue and John Wesley Dobbs, students on campus said Tuesday. But Monday night, he walked a block over to the parking lot of Piedmont North, a former hotel converted to a freshmen dormitory, according to police.
In the dorm’s visitor parking lot, Rhoden allegedly met up with two men inside a Honda, Mullis said. Neither the driver, Shelton Torance Flournoy II, 19, nor his 18-year-old passenger attend Georgia State. Investigators believe Rhoden met the two to sell marijuana. But inside the car, an argument started.
Both Rhoden and Flournoy pulled guns, according to police.
Flournoy allegedly shot Rhoden once in the chest with a .22-caliber handgun, and Rhoden allegedly shot Flournoy three times with a .40-caliber Glock, according to police. After being shot, one of the two ran about a block before collapsing.
Students in the area who heard the commotion alerted campus officers working at a precinct in the University Commons building. Both Rhoden and Flournoy were taken to Grady, where both remained in serious condition Tuesday. Both were charged with assault, attempted murder and possession of a firearm on campus, Mullis said.
Police interviewed the passenger in the Honda, but he had not been charged late Tuesday. That man told investigators he and Flournoy had met Rhoden to purchase sneakers, Mullis said. But there were no sneakers inside Rhoden’s backpack, found at the scene.
What police did find inside Rhoden’s backpack was almost a pound of marijuana and a gun, Mullis said Tuesday. Several pairs of sneakers were found in Rhoden’s dorm room, Mullis said.
Investigators hope to learn more when they are able to speak to Flournoy and Rhoden.
Tuesday afternoon, students flowed in and out of Piedmont North between classes. The shootings had many students on edge, but others said they still feel safe.
“I feel like there’s a lot of crime everywhere, and people shouldn’t blame it on Georgia State,” Nyia Bolin, a freshman, said Tuesday. “But it’s scary that it’s right here in the parking lot.”
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