The
Issue 3
owley
Student Publication of Cowley College
P
Sept. 23, 2004
ress
Arkansas City, Kan.
w w w. c o w l e y p r e s s . c o m
Three athletes shot
One remains in critical condition BY TARA VANDERPOOL Managing Editor
T
hree Cowley athletes were victims of a shooting early Sunday morning, Sept. 12, on Highway 77 just south of Newkirk, Okla. Freshman Tim Johnson was still in critical condition at Via Christi Hospital in Wichita as of press time on Tuesday night. Freshman Ryan Stittiams was admitted to Via Christi Hospital in Ponca City, Okla. Stittams was released on Tuesday, Sept. 14. Sophomore Stewart Hypolite was treated for shrapnel wounds to the side and released the same day. One arrest has been made in connection with the shooting. On Thursday, Sept. 16, Jerod Leon, 22, of Ponca City, Okla., was taken into custody by the Ponca City Police Department. Leon is being held in Kay County Jail on a bond of $500,000. He is being charged with two counts of shooting with intent to kill. Another suspect, Jeremy Roland, 21, also of Ponca City, is still being sought. Johnson, Stittiams and Hypolite were among a group of 11 students who went to a club called The Pulse about 12:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 12. Sophomore Jon Antar, who was also in the group, said, “I’m not sure why we decided to go so late. By the time we got down there, it was almost 1, and the club closes at 2.” During the short amount of time that the students were at the club, a fight broke out between them and another group of patrons. According to Kay County Undersheriff Buddy Thomas, two fights took place. The first altercation happened inside the club and was broken up by security. The second fight took place in the parking lot. “I don’t even remember what the fight was about,” Stittiams said. “I just remember thinking that it wasn’t any big thing.” Although Stittiams may not have thought that the fight was that serious, others had different opinions. “I could tell something bad was going to happen from the way they kept staring us down,” Antar said. “I was just trying to get everyone into their cars so we could leave.” Antar’s feelings turned out to be right. Shortly after leaving the club the black ’95 Mustang that Johnson, Stittiams and Hypolite were traveling in was intercepted by one or two cars containing the men they had been fighting with, according to investigators. Once the suspects’ car(s) caught up with the Mustang, shots were fired. “We believe that at least three shots were fired,” Thomas said. “The first shot hit the rear driver side tire. The other two shots entered the vehicle and caused injury to all three people.” Thomas said that the second shot went in through the trunk, through the back seat, and through the headrest of the driver seat, striking Johnson in the back of the head. The third shot also went through the trunk and back seat, this time grazing Hypolite on the side. The bullet then continued through the back of the passenger seat and
Timothy Johnson
Ryan Stittiams
Memphis, Tenn.
Memphis, Tenn.
St.
struck Stittiams in the back. According to Stittiams and Hypolite, while the shooting was going on there was confusion in the car. Once the first shot blew out the tire and the second struck Johnson in the head, he began to lose control. Stittiams was then forced to lean over and take control of the car. Once Stittams was struck in the back, the car ran off the road. “We found the car about 150 feet from the road in a wheat field,” Thomas said. “It was obvious at that time that the car had rolled at least once.” Once the car came to a complete stop, Stittiams and Hypolite were able to climb out. Hypolite then called 911 from his cell phone. “I told them that we had been shot at and that people were hurt,” he Photo by Tara Vanderpool said. Sophomore Ryan Stittiams shows his gunshot wounds while he recovers in a hospital After paramedics in Ponca City. Stittiams returned to campus last week. arrived, Johnson was removed from the car and taken to Via Christi Hospital in Ponca City. He was later life watched to Via Christi Hospital in Wichita. Cowley President Dr. Pat McAtee said he views the student body as his own kids and was upset with the news of the events. “We’ve been very fortunate over the years,” he said. “Nothing like this has ever happened before.” 12:30 a.m. - Three car loads carrying 11 McAtee called a meeting for all dorm residents on Cowley students leave for Ponca City. Tuesday, Sept. 14, in the Brown Center Theater. His goal was to let students know that the college is doing its best to keep them safe. He also said that students should be 1 a.m. - Athletes arrive at club Pulse. aware of their surroundings. “If you find yourself in a bad situation, it is much 1:50 a.m. - First fight starts inside Pulse. easier to just walk away then get in a confrontation,” he said. 2:10 a.m. - Second fight starts in parking lot. McAtee recommended that students stay away from Ponca City for a while and “let things cool off.” He was adamant about staying away from The Pulse. 2:15 a.m. - 2:30 a.m. - Cars leave club and head “I told them not to go to The Pulse anymore at all, back to campus. Last car in line contains Tim because from everything I’ve heard about it, it’s just not a Johnson, Ryan Stittiams and Stewart Hypolite. good place to be,” he said. All three injured athletes are members of the cross country and track teams. Fellow 2:30 a.m. - 3 a.m. - Suspects intercept car and teammate Steven Schoon says that fire at least three shots. Johnson and Stittiams the team is dealing with it in their lose control of car after being shot. own ways. “Coach (Mark) Phillips has called two team meetings and is trying to keep us updated the best he can,” Schoon said. “We ran on Saturday, but team morale was low, because our number four runner is in the hospital, and nobody really thought the meet was that imporPhoto by Tara Vanderpool tant.” The Pulse, formerly the site of Cassiopeia’s, is the Stewart Hypolite club the students visited in Ponca City. Croix, Virgin Islands
Timeline of Shooting Sunday, Sept. 12