NJCU student among arrested for dorm shooting

Monica Sarmiento, Editor-in-Chief

NJCU student Keyshawn Alexander, 22, was one of the three people arrested in relation to the shooting incident that took place at the West Campus Village dorms on Saturday, February 23. Alexander was charged with hindering and tampering with evidence, according to city spokesperson Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione.

Dean of Students Dr. Lyn Hamlin confirmed that Alexander had been suspended. The university is moving forward alongside the investigation to see if “expulsion is a possible sanction.”

Alexander, Tijahie M. Jacobus, 22, and Ariel Fernandez, 22, were also arrested with charges for hindering.

The suspects originally reported to police last weekend that an attempted robbery took place at the residence hall. The victim alleged that in an effort to disarm the robber, the gun went off and he was shot in the foot. Jacobus suffered a wound to his left foot.

On Tuesday, February 25, the JCPD and NJCU Department of Public Safety confirmed that the robbery “was unfounded, and the police report filed was determined to be false.”

“Evidence recovered from the scene indicates that the victim, who was not affiliated with the University, was accidentally shot in the foot inside a dorm room within the West Campus Village residence hall.”

The ban on all guest privileges from all three residence halls (Co-Op, Vodra, and West Campus Village) will be lifted on Monday, March 18.