Within 10 days, two separate shootings occurred near two college campuses in South Jersey.
On Sept. 11, a man was arrested after he allegedly shot a woman in the face at a stop light near Stockton University in Galloway Township. Police identified the suspect as actor Ernest Wesley Heinz, who is currently in police custody and has been charged with attempted homicide.
According to Galloway Township police, Heinz fired a single shot at the victim’s face after she tried to merge into his lane before fleeing the scene onto Stockton’s campus. The university activated a shelter-in-place while police searched for the suspect. The shelter-in-place lasted about three hours.
10 days later, in Glassboro, a person was shot near a Rowan University off-campus residence hall. Rowan police reported that a person fired a gun from a car, striking someone on the sidewalk. No students were injured,though some witnessed the incident.
The incidents sparked discussion at SHU, where students reflected on their own campus safety.
Tyler Petty, a freshman physics major, finds comfort in SHU’s entrance gates, which are monitored by the Department of Public Safety. He said he “[doesn’t] feel scared at all.”
Rifah Islam, a senior criminal justice major, echoed these sentiments, finding safety in the campus gates.
“I feel pretty safe,” she said. “I feel like they’re pretty on it over here.”
Eric Iheagwara, a graduate student with a concentration in finance, said the campus’ proximity to the local police station brings him comfort.
"We're located centrally in between two police precincts. I think that’s ideal for Seton Hall,” he said.
On the other hand, Robert Vales, a freshman business and law major, raised concern about how security is enforced at the gates.
“The only concern I have is really you can easily get through the front gate on campus, and you can just lie and say you’re a Doordash driver and they’ll just let you through without any identification,” he said.
Similarly, Daniella Castillo, a transfer sophomore business sports management major, said that she wished there was a plan in case of emergencies.
“As a transfer I do feel safe on this campus,” she said. “ [But] I feel like maybe they could have an…[active shooter] plan. We don’t really go over plans.”
Sergio Oliva, associate vice president and director of public safety and security, said SHU’s Public Safety department prioritizes student protection through patrols, escorts and partnerships with the South Orange Police Department.
“In the event of safety issues, the University coordinates closely with local law enforcement and shares information proactively,” he said.
He added that students can also take comfort in measures such as a critical incident management plan, expanded emergency alerts sent through multiple platforms, secured residence halls, and trained officers prepared to respond quickly.
Joseph Tippets is a writer for The Setonian’s News section. He can be reached at joseph.tippets@student.shu.edu.
