Police and paramedics were called to the 600 block of University Drive Sept. 13 after a report of a gunshot.Allen Baxter, 21-year-old former student and native of Madison remains in critical condition at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle Wednesday after a non-fatal suicide attempt.
Detective Mike Edwards, who worked on the case for the Starkville Police Department, said he arrived at 9:43 p.m., but the medics had already placed Baxter on the stretcher for transport to the hospital.
“The gunshot was to the left part of his head with a 12-gauge shotgun,” he said.
There was no possibility the attack was made by someone else and the police are treating this case as a suicide attempt, Edwards said.
“The wound was definitely self-inflicted,” he said.
Baxter was not alone during the time of the shooting, Edwards said. There were two men and a woman in the apartment with him.
“As I know of, his roommate and his girlfriend and one of his friends arrived there that he sent a text to,” he said.
Edwards said the friend who received the text message from Baxter is a hometown friend.
“He went and checked on him and at that time everything was normal. His roommate and his girlfriend were downstairs watching a movie,” Edwards said.
Baxter was in his bedroom for about another 10 minutes before his friend kicked the door in and Baxter shot himself, he said.
Edwards was unable to comment on how long Baxter was actually in the room altogether.
Edwards said Baxter was not receiving treatment for any mental health conditions.
He was unable to comment on whether there were other issues involved that might have led Baxter to attempt suicide. Edwards said alcohol and drugs were not involved.