Jackson Free Press

The husband of a woman shot at Jackson State University last night is asking for authorities to help find the suspect who is still at large.

New Hebron resident Andrea Michalkova Scott, 35, is in intensive care at the University of Mississippi Medical Center after a man shot her in the head in the parking lot outside the John A. Peoples Science Building. Scott is a research chemist in the chemistry department at Jackson State, and moved to Mississippi from Slovakia a few years ago.

Her husband, Bill Scott, says his wife was shot twice in the back of the head by an attacker who stole her purse. "We are waiting on results of the latest CAT scan," Scott told the Jackson Free Press today. "One of the bullets caved in part of her skull and created some bleeding, and the doctors are concerned that it might be a problem. Luckily, the man who shot her had a small-caliber weapon and a really bad shot."

Jackson State University Interim Chief of Police Tyrone Kidd said his department received a call at 6:30 p.m. Monday, reporting a female had been shot. He said currently there are no known witnesses.

"We will continue the investigation, locate suspects if possible and work closely with JPD as it may take us outside the boundaries of campus," Kidd said.

Joseph Daughtry, information officer for the Jackson Police Department, said JPD is assisting with the investigation, but said he could not comment on the facts surrounding the case.

Daughtry said Jackson State University functions autonomously when it comes to responding to crimes on campus property. "They handle their own investigation, and we assist them as requested," he said. "If JSU is handling a situation and needs a mobile crime unit, we will utilize our resources."

He said that there are several call boxes on campus that dial directly to the JSU police department, and in the event that a person dials 911, JPD has a direct line that will forward to the university police department.

Previous Commentsshow

Prayers go out to Ms. Scott and her family. We also must send good wishes to the students and teachers now walking around in fear. As for the Ledger commenters, that paper is so hungry for page views at any cost that they let absolute garbage, and worse, onto their site. Funny thing: that's the top meme I hear about the Clarion-Ledger these days -- they are now being defined by what they allow people to post about people and groups of people. They are no better than the anonymous tabloggers who cowardly trash at will without the nerve to attach their names. (The worst use of the Internet.) Anyone who allows that to happen on their site are no better than the people who do it, and sadly, we'll all pay as the court decisions catch up on it. Put another way: such poor moderation is a very dumb long-term strategy even if it nets some page views in the short run.

DonnaLadd

Feb 2 2010

Well said Ladd and I'm not surprised at all baquan my friends and I saw that one coming. I am praying for her swift and complete recovery.

multiculturegirl

Feb 2 2010

What's more these idiots on the CL posts don't even realize that JSU has their own police force and JPD has nothing to do with this case unless invited I know that from being a student.

multiculturegirl

Feb 2 2010

I never look at the C-L so I cannot comment upon their posters. I will say this: in all large cities violence is a fact of life. I do not care if you are in Madison or Clinton someone could try to rob you. Times are desperate. I never leave my house unarmed. Not always a gun, sometimes a knife or taser. I am not ashamed to say that, and I am as liberal as you can get. I am not going to be a willing victim. I have training and experience, however. I want to say this: wherever you are, be careful. Look what is around you, be mindful of blind spots. Park under lights. If someone points a weapon at you, yell as loud as you can and run. That is what the police teach.

revdrstewart

Feb 2 2010

I'm just now reading this. I had no idea she was white until now and now that I know that, I'm not going to even go over to the C-L's reader comments for this story. I can imagine the vitriolic comments about it.

golden eagle

Feb 2 2010

My fav was the post that asked if the person that shot her could be charged with a hate crime since she was a minority on the campus, even though no one has said anything about her being shot due to her race

multiculturegirl

Feb 2 2010

I barely go to the Clarion-Ledger site for anything anymore. I don't look at car wrecks, and likewise I don't need to read bad writing that presents more questions than it answers, and I sure don't purposely read racist drivel written by people using fake names. It's just a bunch of cowards spewing hate. Too much of blogging is turning into that. That doesn't mean there is no place for posting anonymously to protect your identity (such as you, Baquan, but I know who you are, as I do most people who post here) -- but no one should allow personal attacks and racist garbage under fake names. Most of the people who have ever been kicked off this site was for that very reason, and you know they are out there posting anonymously and under fake names on the CL site and elsewhere including on their own blogs. I guess the advantage of the anonymous thing is that no one knows that it is actually one person spewing hate pretending to be different people. From what I hear out in Jackson, though, people are really growing tired of that tactic. Seriously, the *only* thing I ever hear anyone say about the Ledger anymore is how awful their commenters are. The really sad part is that their comments makes it look like most of the Ledger's readers are outright racists. Nice message to send to the world. I'll take the hit any day of having obsessive racists running around posting everything they can think of to discredit me once I boot them from here for their nastiness rather than allow them to turn this site into something that looks straight out of Jim Crow.

DonnaLadd

Feb 2 2010

I only looked because baquan put the link up I just couldn't help myself but I don't subscribe to their newspaper that has no news in it because of their garbage, and yes I think people are sick of it. It just always seems that people who clearly don't live in Jackson have plenty to say about Jackson and its never nice. Ladd we all pretty much know that you know who we are especially those of us who stay on here all the dang time. Heck even one of my acquaintances knew it was me and told me to get a new screen name if I was going to criticize Jackson State everyone knows it, lol. I just don't care.

multiculturegirl

Feb 2 2010

Shooting someone in the back of the head twice to steal a purse with $5.00 in it is a horrible thing to do.Why is the topic of race even mentioned in comments by readers.This is a dangerous,sick,criminal who needs to be apprehended NOW.It may be that one of us are his next victim.My understanding of the parking lot where this Woman was shot is that it is poorly lit and not patrolled well by campus security.I hope JSU will address this problem and any other problems with security and poorly lit areas that are accessed in evening hours.My feeling is that perhaps all Female faculity and students should have an escort to their automobile after dark to ensure their safety.JSU,with the assistance of JPD,will hopefully apprehend this thug very soon.

65GTO

Feb 3 2010

It is incredibly awful. One question I have: How do they know he shot her because she only had $5? The facts, so far, seem a bit muddled.

DonnaLadd

Feb 3 2010

I think the fact that she was was shot twice is already established as fact.That is not muddled and is really the relevant thing here.As per an IRN Radio news report at 0730hrs.,2 Feb.2010,she was first struck with the gun and her purse was demanded,when she refused to surrender the purse,she was shot once in the jaw.The robber,upon finding only $5.00 in her purse,then shot her in the back of the head,then fled the scene with two other males who had been alleged lookouts.

65GTO

Feb 3 2010

Ms. Ladd, my understanding from friends at JSU is that she was able to give a statement to the police. She indicated that they said to each other "she only has $5?!?!" and then shot her, supposedly out of spite. So they are not only cowards but most likely sociopaths.

revdrstewart

Feb 3 2010

Not only that, but how is it known that she only had $5 in her purse? Did they interview the victim or did the husband or others know how much she carried?

golden eagle

Feb 3 2010

Thanks Ladd for your question of 2/3/10 @ 7:07AM. I am so sorry that this young woman faced this type of violence. No matter the circumstances, the color of her skin or where she was on this campus, the act was WRONG. I have questions about how it is known that the robbers shot her twice in the head because she only had $5. There were no eye witnesses to the incident so whose story is this? Usually, robbers in this type of situation, where there are security officers, don't stand around, count their cash, shoot their victim and then run away. Did she know these guys? There is a story out that they were waiting for her is a parked SUV. My sympathy and well wishes to her and her family and with my sincere hope for a recovery.

justjess

Feb 3 2010

justjess, I fear that could be one of those media memes that end up not being true (like "wilding" in Central Park if anyone remembers that). Although if she could give the statement to the police as the rev says, hopefully it is.

DonnaLadd

Feb 3 2010

I agree with Ladd and I know the area that they are talking about and no its not really well lit and no there is not security posted in that area but there is a guard shack not about a block away and there are officers that patrol the area all day I know this to be fact not urban legend. People keep making statements about how she should've had an escort to her car well she could've called for one it may have taken a min to get there but you can request one from campus police (I am NOT blaming the victim, just responding to points). I lived on campus for two years was on campus until late up until last year and never felt the need to have an escort, I carry tear gas/pepper spray, but I carry that everywhere. This could've happened anywhere. My prayers are with her, my school, and my city.

multiculturegirl

Feb 3 2010

I want to inject a point that has not been discussed. This woman is Slovakian. There is a great deal of street crime there, but almost none of it ends in murder or grave injury. It is simply strong arm robbery. When I have traveled to eastern Europe for research; we knew to be careful but in all honesty the worst that would happen is that you come home with a broken nose or black eye and your wallet gone. People in Europe, even the east, just do not expect to be shot over a trivial matter. Most murders are crimes of passion in families or mob related. If she had been born and raised in the US maybe she would have been less likely to resist. (just typing that statement makes me sick). There is a very serious issue, as several have noted, that some people seem to believe that a person's life is worth $5. When do you NOT shoot your bleeding victim on the ground? $10? $20? These are predators. I hope she can give a positive ID or there is surveillance footage. I fear one reason the JSU police are so secretive is that they have not been keeping the security equipment in good repair and there are no tapes. I am sure it will all be thrashed out in court.

revdrstewart

Feb 3 2010

When you're robbing someone, you don't really know how much money the victim has on them, if they have anything at all. That's the sad part about it. I wonder if the perp(s) targeted her because she was a white woman and the perception would've been that she had money on her.

golden eagle

Feb 3 2010

Agreed about the domino effect, Baquan. The same people who were silent or defensive about the kid at Ole Miss who killed the cop will make this into a reason that Jackson is too dangerous to be in. And they will use The Clarion-Ledger as the primary place to spread the propaganda.

DonnaLadd

Feb 3 2010

Hey, how about that hero who heard the shots and went running to help the victim. That guy, LeMarc Humphrey, has got guts. What a credit he is to Jackson and Jackson State.

WMartin

Feb 4 2010