The Mississippi State University Police Department is currently investigating a Saturday morning report of an attempted abduction and a gunshot on the south end of campus.
At approximately 4 a.m., MSU Police received a report that a firearm had been discharged in a parking lot behind Hathorn Hall.
In a statement published on the MSU Web site, MSU Chief of Police Georgia Lindley said the situation involved three individuals.
“Our preliminary interviews with witnesses indicate that a female student, 18, was on the passenger side of a vehicle when approached by a male she described as African-American, wearing black clothing with a bandana covering his face,” she said.
As the female student was approached by the masked male, another male student was waiting for her, Lindley said.
“The black male showed the female a gun and asked her to leave with him. She quickly ran toward her male friend, also 18,” she said. “Both reported hearing a shot fired as they left the area.”
Following the weekend incident Maridith Geuder, director of university relations, said the university will increase campus security patrols of residence halls. She said the patrols will last from sunlight to sunset.
“Students can always call for escort services 24 hours a day,” Geuder said. “If you’re on campus at night, it’s always best to be with a friend.”
At the time of publication, phone calls to housing and residence life administrators were unreturned.
Ann Bailey, director of housing and residence life, was out of town and could not be reached.
Dean of students Mike White and associate dean of students Thomas Bourgeois also did not return prepublication phone calls.
In the release, Lindley said campus and local officials are conducting an aggressive investigation into the incident.
“We encourage anyone with more information to call us at 325-2121,” she said.