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updated: Andrews University Statement at the bottom… and link to official statement from Russell Burrill

today was full of dramatic and frighteningly somewhat similar events. i’m sure at this point most of you have heard about the shooting that took place this morning at Virginia Tech, where as of 3pm 5pm. over 30 33 people have been confirmed dead…

… however dramatic and largely bizarre events were not limited to the east coast, here in the midwest we had our share of crazy...

this morning as i was enjoying my morning cut of delicious petes coffee and anxiously following the news, several emergency vehicles speed by in an unusual, not so pretentious manner… in my office we’re all used to hearing sirens and campus security eagerly in pursuit after frightened grandma as she omits stopping at the corner stop sign… but today seemed different, probably largely due to presence of actual police vehicles; we thought something real was going on… and indeed it did.

according to my sources the guy pictured below decided to go after one of the professors in the theology building, reportedly punching him in the face and attempting to strangle him thereafter.
there has been no “official” news release from the university at this point, but as i understand the suspect is in custody and has been transfered to a psyc unit for 48 hours of monitoring. as of yet, there has been no publicly available documents that would indicate charges have been filed. Charges are being filed by the prosecutor office.

At approximately 9:15 am today, Seminary professor Russell Burrill was threatened and assaulted in his office at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary by an Andrews student. There was no weapon involved. Office staff heard the struggle and calls for help, went to Russell Burrill’s aid and called Public Safety and the police. Police have the student in custody, and the student is receiving medical attention. Russell Burrill sought medical attention, was released, and has returned to the classroom this afternoon. The student’s name is not being released at this time. Charges are being reviewed have been filed by the prosecutor’s office.

Some related links:
Andrews University News Releases
Virginia Tech Website
Xanga blog with “official” statement from Russell Burrill

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