Students were reportedly not initially notified https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/01/3-killed-2-hurt-in-shootings-at-bar-house-near-penn-state-university-reports.html
The bar, PJ Harrigans, is apparently popular with some students. Students voiced disappointment that updated information was not sent out by the school to the students.
I had a dream last night about my daughter’s bf who is at Penn State - then I woke to this news. Weird.
It doesn’t surprise me that students weren’t notified. 2 miles away from campus is probably not considered to be within the area where they must report crime. Also, no ongoing threat to community and not linked in any way to PSU.
Penn State typically sends out an alert for just about anything and everything. In this case, it was supposedly over and done with in about 15 min as the gunman killed himself–and it was away from campus and didn’t involve students. Regardless, someone at PSU will likely take heat for not sending out an alert. Sad situation.
Sounds like the situation was handled quickly. I think what would have been helpful is if an “all clear” was sent out. Rumors were rampant.
Scary situation indeed. Students do live down that way so an ‘all clear’ alert would have been good I think. I tell my daughter all of the time to lock her door up there but she thinks it’s so safe. And it is, most of the time. But you never know. Lock your doors!
Harrigan’s sin’t anywhere near any major student housing – it’s far from campus (you couldn’t walk there). I don’t think an alert made any sense
Actually the updated article posted on onward state Facebook page says the gunman fled the scene of the first set of killings and then was found dead later of a self inflicted wound in another location
He left the bar scene still armed
What students in the area are upset about it seems is that there was an active shooter on the loose and no alert
That’s what maybe should have promoted an alert
By Elissa Hill
1/25/19 3:06 pm
State College police chief John Gardner met with the media Friday afternoon at the municipal building to provide an update on Thursday night’s shootings at P.J. Harrigan’s at the Ramada Hotel and at a Tussey Lane residence.
Four people were left dead after Jordan Witmer, 21, of Bellefonte, opened fire at the P.J. Harrigan’s bar. Nicole Abrino and Witmer were sitting at the bar together, with Steven and Dean Beachy sitting across from them when Witmer got up and walked to the other side where they were sitting.
Police say he then shot Abrino, 21, who sustained a wound to the chest and is in critical condition at a Pittsburgh area hospital, Steven Beachy, 19, who was transported to a hospital and pronounced dead Friday afternoon, and Dean Beachy, 61, who died at the scene.
The weapon used was a small-caliber semi-automatic, according to Gardner, believed but not confirmed to be a 9mm. Witmer had a lawful permit to carry the weapon.
Witmer fled the scene in a car, which police found crashed in a ditch near the State College YMCA at the intersection of Waupelani Drive and Tussey Lane around 10:46 p.m. The car was unoccupied and no other weapons were found in the vehicle.
Police were then dispatched to 748 Tussey Lane at 11:09 p.m. to a call of burglary and shots fired. When officers arrived at 11:14 p.m., they found WItmer dead in the living room of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He had entered the home by shooting a sliding glass door. Resident George McCormick, 83, was found dead. Resident Joann McCormick, 80, was found unharmed.
In response to criticism for not releasing more information to the public sooner, Gardner said one thing the department could have done better was to release information sooner that the threat had been eliminated. However, he stressed that officers’ first priorities are to respond safely, assess the situation, identify immediate threats, triage injuries, render aid, attempt to save lives, identify suspects, and get information from any witnesses or the victims themselves.
The first thing officers did after that was to put out information to all law enforcement agencies in the area. By that point, Gardner said much of the information police knew was already out on local television or on social media.
Gardner said he does not recall any incidents of this level, with multiple gunshot wounds, in his 29 years with the department.
“Obviously we’re not immune from it like anywhere else,” Gardner said. “Relatively speaking, State College is one of the safest places in America…it’s the people in general who live here, and that’s one of the reasons they want to live here, is because it’s a safe community.”
Investigation into the incident will continue into the coming weeks and months, Garnder said, to determine what unfolded. It remains unknown what caused Witmer to open fire, and his relationship, if any, with the victims.
Anyone who may have information on the incident is encouraged to contact the State College Police at by phone at (814) 863-1111, by email, or by submitting an anonymous tip through the department’s website.
@ziveli513 He broke into a random home and shot and killed an 83 year old man before killing himself.
So sad all around