Four people were injured in a stabbing incident at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana. The stabbings occurred in the parking lot of the Lambright Sports and Wellness Center around 9 a.m.
One person was airlifted to Shreveport in critical condition. A suspect was apprehended near the J.C. Love Baseball Complex.
A message from Louisiana Tech SGA states:
Shortly after 9 a.m. there was a stabbing incident reported at the Lambright Sports and Wellness Center on the Louisiana Tech University campus. Tech police received a phone call at approximately 9:08 a.m. and had the suspect in custody at approximately 9:12 a.m.
The attack happened outside of the building as the victims were leaving. The suspect then fled south toward main campus and was apprehended by campus police without incident.
This appears to be a random act of violence. The suspect has been identified as Louisiana Tech student, Jacoby Johnson. He is being treated at Northern Louisiana Medical Center for injuries received during the initial incident. Ruston Police Department and the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office assisted with scene control and evidence collection.
There are four known victims, two were transported to a local hospital, one was airlifted to Shreveport, and the other refused treatment. As of 11:40 a.m. one victim is in critical condition at NLMC and the two other victims are in serious but stable condition. The victim airlifted is a graduate student. The other three victims are non-students.
At this time, the Lambright Center is closed. All other campus operations are normal. The investigation is ongoing and the university will provide an update later this afternoon.
Counseling Services is available to students individually and in a group setting at no additional charge. Appointments can be made by visiting Keeny Hall 310, calling 318.257.2488, or through the website. A special group offering will begin today at 3:00 pm and run throughout the week to provide a space for students to process emotions following the unexpected event.