Pittsburgh – Five Duquesne basketball players were shot on campus early Sunday, leaving at least one critically injured, after some of them tried to calm a man who apparently had been disruptive at a dance, officials said.
Police searched for the gunman, and the downtown school stepped up its round-the-clock police protection with armed university police officers guarding dormitories and other buildings.
Two players had been walking near a dormitory when they encountered a man who apparently had been disruptive at a student union dance, authorities said. The players attempted to pacify him and walked away but were shot. Players who rushed to their aid also were shot.
The gunman and a group of people with him were not students, university president Charles Dougherty said. Several witnesses saw the gunman leave campus after the shots were fired.
In critical condition was forward Sam Ashaolu, a transfer from Lake Region State College and a cousin of former Houston Rockets star Hakeem Olajuwon. In serious condition was Stuard Baldonado, a transfer from Miami Dade College who was considered the school’s best recruit.
Also hospitalized was Kojo Mensah, a guard from New York City who averaged nearly 17 points per game last season at Siena College before transferring, school officials said. His condition was not released.
Treated and released were Shawn James of New York City, the nation’s leading shot-blocker last season at Northeastern University before transferring to Duquesne; and Aaron Jackson, a guard who is one of only two returning players from Duquesne’s 3-24 team last season.
Witnesses reported seeing two guns, Dougherty said, but he couldn’t confirm whether both were fired. The second gun was seen on someone in a group with the gunman, Dougherty said.
Six to 12 shots were fired, he said. He did not know what sparked the violence.
“What motive can there be for unloading a pistol into a group of students?” Dougherty said.
James, an NBA prospect expected to be Duquesne’s top player when he becomes eligible in the 2007-08 season, was shot in the foot, but no bones were broken. Mensah was believed shot in the shoulder.
Jackson was shot in the hand.
“The entire Duquesne University community is saddened and shocked,” Dougherty said. “We’re shocked because an event of this sort has never happened. It’s a safe campus.”
Duquesne University is a private Catholic institution with nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students.
At the school’s regular Sunday night Mass, the Rev. Timothy Hickey asked more than 300 students in the packed chapel to pray for the victims.
“As we come together we acknowledge our shock and sadness about what happened here,” he said. “Their healing is our utmost concern. … We are family, and we care for one another.”
Dukes coach Ron Everhart, formerly at Northeastern, had rebuilt the school’s program after being hired in March, bringing in 10 recruits – one of the most sweeping upheavals at a Division I program in recent years.
