Security upgrades coming to Tuskegee University
In the wake of the mass shooting at Tuskegee University that killed one person and injured 16 others, Tuskegee University officials are making some changes to the way they provide security.
Tuskegee University President Dr. Mark Brown says the university is in the process of hiring up to eight additional police officers that will allow them to provide 24/7 security patrol.
Dr. Brown says the school is restructuring the front gate and adding an electronic arm to make it clear that the campus isn’t open to the public to enter as they wish.
In addition, the HBCU plays to install 400 additional cameras with common vision, which will be able to detect weapons, to the 500 they already have.
Metal detectors will be added as permanent fixtures, along with the addition of key fobs and keypad security that alerts when doors are propped open.
Dr. Brown said the school will move to the use of a security application called RAVE as one of their emergency notifications systems. Still need to have this app on their phones.
University officials say today, more than 40 additional mobile lights are being placed as needed throughout the campus.
Earlier this week, Dr. Brown announced the campus is no longer open to the public and that a badge will required to enter campus.
The changes come after 18-year-old La’Tavion Johnson, of Troy, was killed in a shooting on campus last weekend. University leaders say Johnson was not a Tuskegee University student. The shooting happened during the weekend of the school’s 100th homecoming celebration.
The State Bureau of Investigation has arrested 25-year-old Jaquez Myrick of Montgomery on charges that he possessed a handgun that had a machine gun conversion device. They say he was seen leaving the scene. He is facing a federal charge of possessing a machine gun.
ALEA is asking for the public’s assistance in this case. Anyone with information is asked to submit tips at 1-800-CALL-FBI and upload any digital files regarding this incident online at: fbi.gov/tuskegeeshooting24
Classes are canceled for the remainder of the week to allow students time to grieve.
