By Diana C. Hernandez

On Feb. 20th around 9: 46 p.m., according to witnesses, Ahmed M. Salaheldin, 43, a student at NJCU from Bayonne pulled out his gun on two 19-year old men in a silver 2000 Pontiac Grand Am. The two men had tried to leave the NJCU parking lot located on Audubon Avenue without paying the parking fee. It is not clear whether the men were students of NJCU.

According to police, Salaheldin is a United States Federal Air Marshal who witnessed an NJCU Public Safety vehicle [driven by Parking and Transportation Manager, Wayne Anderson] speeding towards the Pontiac. He stated he saw the other security guard close to the gates. Then, the NJCU Public Safety vehicle blocked the Pontiac from getting out.

Afterwards, the Pontiac went into reverse and Salaheldin feared for his life so he decided to pull out his gun. He shouted “POLICE. STOP!” several times. He ordered them to step out the car which led to a verbal argument between Salaheldin, who believed they were trying to fight him, and the other bystanders.

Jessica Nelson, 22, Musical Theater major from Jersey City witnessed the whole account and feels the students were not picking a fight with Salaheldin.

“As a witness I can say that there was no visible threat that those young men in the car posed to the officer,” said Nelson.  “The car was reversing in the middle of campus, but that man was not about to be struck with the car and in fact approached the car diagonally from the back of the car.”

Nelson and her friend also spoke with the young men from Union and Jersey City. “The two young men, who were in the car, told us after they talked to the police that security vouched for them to be in full cooperation with security and to do exactly what they were told. Security also told us later that the man was trying to contact his bosses from DC.”

Nelson and her friends were asked to leave the scene when police noticed they were recording the incident. NJCU being state property, the witnesses were told they were obstructing the investigation and were on private property, so they were unable to hear the exchanges between the suspects and police.

Nelson feels it is her right as a student to be informed who is carrying a gun on campus. “I didn’t know that plain clothes officers could carry [weapons] on campus. I think that should be info that is told to every student without students having to ask because it would have never occurred to me that there are multiple students with the right to carry guns on campus.”

“I also want to know what the policy is if there even is any policy when it comes to these people and how they conduct themselves on campus, because this man handled the situation poorly and inappropriately and I do not feel safe on campus if there are hotheaded officers who are eager to draw their gun and jump to conclusions,” said Nelson.

In the NJCU’s Student Rights and Responsibilities Code of Conduct handbook, in section Crime Prevention, Weapons Violations Policy states, “The possession, carrying or use of any weapon ammunition, fireworks or explosive by any person is prohibited on University property except by authorized law officers and others specifically authorized by the University.”

Ellen Wayman-Gordon, Assistant Vice President for University Advancement for Public Information told us what she knew about the incident, “I can tell you what I understand. Apparently, there was an event and some students were exiting incorrectly of the parking lot. Security asked them to stop and turn around. The ‘random individual’ you speak of is a registered student and he works for law enforcement. The Public Safety officer did request that the Jersey City Police Dept. investigate. After investigating, no arrests were made and no one was injured. This person works for law enforcement and is allowed to have a gun. He is not employed with the Jersey City Police Dept.”

Nelson who is still baffled about the situation said, “The man walked freely on his phone all around the scene and was never restrained or handcuffed in any way.”

Emergency Resource Numbers

NJCU Switchboard
(201) 200-2000

Public Safety
(201) 200-3128/3127

Health & Wellness Center
(201) 200-3456

Jersey City Police Department
(201) 547-5477

Jersey City Fire Department
(201) 547-4240

NJCU Counseling Center
(201) 200-3165

Liberty Health Systems, Inc. Formerly Jersey City Medical Center
(201) 915-2000

Bayonne Medical Center
(201) 858-5000

Christ Hospital
(201) 795-8200

Towing Service
(201) 656-3321

Lock Out Service
(201) 348-8613

Taxi Cabs
(201) 451-1332, (201) 209-9300, (201) 985-1888