shooting on campus

[Matt]

what is a 57 year old man doing living in magnolia?

[Reliabull]

Magnolia's the grad & married student dorm, Rezz.

[Matt]

still 57 years old?  in college dorms??  just sounds weird to me

[RHBullsFan]

we had an older gentleman living in Beta Ground East the years I was there in the mid-late 90's. He was in his fifities, lived alone and was quite creepy.

[Zonald]

Sounds like his family should file a wrong death suit against USF for their obvious lack of safety in the area.  Wonder if his family needs an attorney?  ....  ;D ;D ;D

[Matt]

Sounds like his family should file a wrong death suit against USF for their obvious lack of safety in the area.  Wonder if his family needs an attorney?  ....  ;D ;D ;D

perfect example of why no one likes attorney

[Zonald]

perfect example of why no one likes attorney

Wait a sec ..... people like me ..... because ....

"I'm Good Enough, I'm Smart Enough, and Doggone It, People Like Me!"  

[The_Reaper]

The UP was just finishing up a stolen wallet complaint at the library when they got the call. Both UP left quickly. When we shut down the library @ midnight, while going home we passed the parking lot at Magnolia, and it was blocked by UP. Lot's of red and blue flashing at that time. Stopped to try to find out whas up. Was told by UP (guys that we know) to leave and leave quickly. Please note, these are guys we talk to all the time at the library and give them coffee. They were all business this time. Knew something was up. Found out later what happened.    Reaper

[ChiTownBull]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11284297/

By LENNY SAVINO , The Tampa Tribune

Tampa Bay Online

TAMPA - They sat beneath an oak tree at a picnic table, chain-smoking cigarettes and mulling the slaying of their friend, Ronald Stem.

The scene was unusual for a college campus, but that's where it was - outside the Magnolia Apartments at the University of South Florida.

Stem, 57, was found at 11:45 p.m. Thursday, facedown in the adjoining parking lot. The former USF staff member had just left his girlfriend's apartment. Campus police said they were searching for three men in hooded sweat suits who were seen leaving the parking lot in either a white car or a black sport utility vehicle.

Freshman Marc Muzzy heard a popping sound but didn't realize it was a gunshot. He and a buddy drove past Stem and thought he was drunk. They called police. An officer checked Stem's pulse and rolled him over.

"He had a small hole in his back," Muzzy said, "but there was a big exit wound in his chest."

Stem was known to Muzzy and nearly everyone as the old guy who looked like a 1960s peacenik with long, gray hair. He was a frequent visitor to the complex, where his girlfriend lives. Stem worked as a Magnolia resident assistant in 2003 and 2004. He also attended classes, USF spokeswoman Lara Wade said.

About 300 students live in the half-dozen new brick and stucco dormitories surrounding a grassy courtyard dotted with shade trees. One of the buildings houses older students with families.

Stem "was always jovial and fun to talk to," said Cortney Chapman. He once helped her with a sociology project.

Police on Friday reviewed campus surveillance videotapes recorded the night of the killing, USF Police Chief Pat Johnson said.

Crime is no stranger to the students, who theorize Stem might have been shot by car burglars who regularly practice their trade here. In the fall semester, there was a stabbing at a McDonald's restaurant on Fletcher Avenue. In December, nearly all of the group heard three shots fired at the Magnolia complex.

The next day, Rafraf Barrak, a political science major, said she found one of the shell casings.

Dormitory doors have electric locks that require ID cards to enter. They are easily defeated by a good yank of the doorknob, though.

An emergency telephone, less than 20 yards from where Stem was discovered, is broken.

At a meeting with Magnolia residents Friday, Johnson said students often leave the doors ajar for friends to enter, or forget to report the doors when they break.

Extra campus officers and Tampa police will patrol the complex until "we think it's safe," USF police Capt. J.D. Withrow said. Normally, three to five officers patrol the campus, which houses 4,400 students. During work hours, the population spikes to 55,000. Johnson wants to hire more officers to bolster his 47 sworn and 18 nonsworn officers.

***** are rare here - about one a year. Each week, car burglaries vary from zero to as many as 60 - the highest figure recorded in October, Johnson said.

Students were offered free counseling from USF psychologist Olga Skalkos, who also attended the meeting.

Despite the slaying, Johnson said, the campus is safe.

"It's much safer than the surrounding neighborhoods," he said. The best practices for students are to travel in groups, especially at night, Johnson said. "And don't leave doors unlocked."

Muzzy wonders whether he should have gone to a smaller school where there isn't as much crime. In his second week of school, someone broke into his car. Now this.

"I really don't feel safe here," he said.