Fatal shooting near WVU campus

[District Resident]

Mother of WVU Student wrote:

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Have you moved your daughter yet and if so what consequences are you facing for breaking her lease? You referred to codes and I was just wondering where you found these things. My daughter also wants out DESPERATELY but we are very concerned over what we'll face because of the lease. She hasn't been back to the District since all of this took place. Any info you have would be helpful to me. I hate the thought of paying for an apartment that she won't even go into. I'm very concerned & want to make her feel safe again. Please HELP! Thanks!

Have your daughter contact student legal services to see if they can help.

[WVU Student]

I live at the District, only a building over from where the shootings occured, and I feel that they did everything that they could given the situation. It could have happened anywhere, and it is simply unfortunate that it happened here. Moving somewhere else doesn't lower the odds of it happening again.

[FAMILY THRU WHATEVER]

I'd like to start by saying that I am the cousin of the young man whose life is no more. Take a second hear me out because the reality of the situation is no one is safe ever. Point blank and period. We all fear that one day that day will be our last we never know, what I do know is when God calls we answer. I want to take a second to tell everyone that tommorrow is never promised so live every day as if it were your last. I want to apologize to those parents that have lost children and loved ones I feel your pain that I can say honestly. I live in Philadelphia though all my Family resides in West Virginia tell me honestly where is it safe? I offer my heart and a listening ear to those who have genuine concerns and those who are serious in walking hand in hand in stopping this trend known to our youth today as VIOLENCE! The time is now for all people to band together to change this world, we are living in our last days in my cousins last days he lived by 6 words, "LOYALTY IS EVERYTHING AND FAMILY THRU WHATEVER" I leave you with that. [e-mail]

[Danny]

It sucks Morgantown is now over run by grimmy you know whats that should just stay in the city.

[Harrison Co Mother]

I noticed that all of these posts were created on Oct. 27 and 28 while emotions were running high. Do most of you still feel the same way? Did any of you actually withdraw your child?
Surely you understand that the District is a private business with no ties to the University. Understand that the District is outside city limits. Understand that there are no RAs or Resident Directors. Understand that your "children" are all over 18 - hence adults. I personally have been very happy with dorm life for our son. There is accountablility in the dorms.
I don't think it is the job of an appartment complex to keep "your child" safe. The District is a business and not a governmental agency with "cradle to grave" protections.
Having said that, it is in the District's best interest to keep crime in control or their business will take a sharp nose dive. I'm sure they've learned a thing or two from this event.

[Jenny C]

The kid Luis that you all are speaking of, that died that night in the shooting, is the one who posed a threat and is the one who promoted this terrible incident to occur. From what I have gathered from a very creditable source, I have the understanding that he was armed and the one who started shooting at the other people in this confrontation. It has been credited that the news papers and other news sources have been very incorrect with the accusations they have publicly posted. Point being, don't believe everything you hear or read and things aren’t always what they appear to be. The reason as to why the men who were accused and are looked at to be the guilty party, were at the District was simply to try to end an altercation from earlier that night with no relation to the weekend prior. They had absolutely no intentions of harm or anything like this to happen. In fact the reality of the matter is the shooter of the deceased boy was forced in shooting back in self defense after being struck numerous times by Luis’s bullets, while trying to leave the building. These victims, who are the "so called" robbers, were shot at first and had been wrongfully shot at with no reasoning. The boy, who was deceased, shot two innocent men and cause an altercation that was completely avoidable and unnecessary and would have never ever occurred if he choose to approach the situation righteously before opening fire. If someone was to wrongfully open fire at you and your friends, wouldn’t you defend yourself?

[my son is elsewhere]

To "Mother" - I understand that you don't think it's any different, but it is. The security is too low for such a large congregation of students. It's so far from the regular entertainments of student living: sports events, music venues, intramural fields, nightspots, that trouble brews and dealers target it. Campus police are far away, and the town can't dedicate police there. It's a bad idea to put so many students together so far away from campus with so little town and gown oversight. Other university towns should take notice and not let these things pop up.
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I too have a daughter living at the district and yes, I'm concerned; very, very concerned. I do, however, realize that this shooting could just have easily taken place at any other complex in Morgantown. I do not believe, for one second, that the District is any more unsafe than the other complex's around campus. There is good, bad, and ugly everywhere you turn.

[Doingr8]

my son is elsewhere wrote:

To "Mother" - I understand that you don't think it's any different, but it is. The security is too low for such a large congregation of students. It's so far from the regular entertainments of student living: sports events, music venues, intramural fields, nightspots, that trouble brews and dealers target it. Campus police are far away, and the town can't dedicate police there. It's a bad idea to put so many students together so far away from campus with so little town and gown oversight. Other university towns should take notice and not let these things pop up.
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I too have a daughter living at the district and yes, I'm concerned; very, very concerned. I do, however, realize that this shooting could just have easily taken place at any other complex in Morgantown. I do not believe, for one second, that the District is any more unsafe than the other complex's around campus. There is good, bad, and ugly everywhere you turn.

Campus police have nothing to do with the district. It is the responsibility of county/state police since it is located off campus and OUT of the city limits of Morgantown. We found out the hard way. Our niece lived there for a short time until we found out that it's basically an open drug market with no security. She had to get legal help but was successful in getting out of her lease. Suggestion to anyone considering any large complex, check with local police about crime before you sign a lease.