A gunman walked into the Wesleyan University bookstore and opened fire on Wednesday afternoon, shooting a woman multiple times, according to Middletown Police.
School officials identified the victim as Johanna Justin-Jinich, a 21-year-old Wesleyan junior from Colorado.
Police say the suspect is Stephen Morgan, 29. He remains on the loose.
Police are asking Middletown residents and Wesleyan students to remain on the lookout, because Morgan is armed and dangerous.
University officials are now recommending students remain indoors. Extra security and police officers will remain on campus.
The shooting happened mid-day Wednesday at Broad Street Books on Church and William Street. Morgan walked into the bookstore where Justin-Jinich was working in a cafe, and shot her, according to police. Police reported she was the intended target.
Middletown schools were put on lockdown, but that was eventually lifted.
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Middletown police searched buildings and dormitories on campus until about 12:30 a.m. Thursday.
Students are remembering Justin-Jinich.
“If you interview a hundred people on this campus, 101 of them would tell you she’s a nice person. She’s overwhelmingly nice, very laid back, soft spoken,” said David Burke, a junior who knew Justin-Jinich since freshman year.
“She’s one of the nicest people on campus. It’s actually quite tragic that this could have happened,” said Burke.
So many people were shocked that Justin-Jinich was so violently killed. They say they don’t know who would have wanted to hurt the 21-year-old, a quiet junior who they say was more focused on school than parties.
“The fact that this happened to her, I was really shocked, because she’s such an innocent girl that no one would have a vendetta against her,” said Michael Battle, a sophomore at Wesleyan.
It’s not just the students who are trying to cope with what happened, many are trying to figure out a crime that seems so senseless.
“It just goes to show something can happen anywhere, totally shocked us,” said Middletown Mayor Sebastian Giuliano.
You can read the latest updates from Wesleyan University to the campus community here.
