Prairie View A&M University police officials are reluctant to talk about the investigation of a criminal incident that occurred Thursday, Feb. 1, in University Village.
Police sources say no injuries have been reported and no suspects have been charged in connection with the incident in which gunfire erupted around 2:30 a.m. in Phases I and II resulting in shattered car windows and damage to apartments.
Investigator D. Hunt said the department had “identified some people of interest,” but refused to offer any further details.
According to Chief Algray Pettus, the department is working in conjunction with the city of Prairie View to guarantee the safety of residents in the area.
Pettus said new policies have been implemented to ensure the safety of students. Among the policies recently enacted are more frequent patrols of the parking lots, gated access to University Village Phases I, II and III, and limited access to the campus after hours. To enter university grounds between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m., a student ID is required.
The police chief said all visitors to the campus during these hours must make individual arrangements with the security attendant. Gated access to the Phases is not yet finalized and is expected to be completed by the end of the spring semester.
“It’s prudent to keep the university at a heightened security,” Pettus said.
On Feb. 1, Chris Harris, a sophomore architecture major, was sleeping when a bullet penetrated his front door and embedded itself in his bathroom.
“There was kind of an uneasy feeling for a couple of days,” said Harris, “It was good that everyone was asleep and not up walking around.”
Harris expressed his concern with how the incident was handled by authorities.
“It would have been better if the police had brought a little more action,” said Harris. “We haven’t really seen too much of a change.”
Hunt declined to comment further about the investigation but said, “My concern is the safety and security of the faculty and students on this campus.