Welcome to the college shooting blog - Yet another idiot shooter, this time in Arkansas

A gunman shot a University of Arkansas at Little Rock student Wednesday afternoon in plain view of 15 to 20 witnesses, including the university’s tennis team.

The shooting happened about 2:10 p.m. on a sidewalk next to the campus’ tennis courts.


Classes were canceled Wednesday night but will resume Thursday, UALR Chancellor Joel E. Anderson said in a statement.

Campus Police Chief Brad King said one or two black men fired two shots at the student, who was later identified by university officials as James Earl Matthews, 33, of North Little Rock.

At least one of the bullets struck the student, but King didn’t say where.

The suspects, one of whom had “afro style hair,” according to a university e-mail alert, fled the area in a cream or gold colored Japanese-model car, possibly a Nissan.

The car was an early to mid-2000 model and had damage on its right side. The pair fled on westbound University Drive toward University Ave.

King called the attack brazen, adding that it took place right in front of a number of pedestrians and the entire university tennis team practicing nearby.

“That’s a busy section of our campus,” King said. “There are a lot of witnesses to talk to.”

Matthews was transported to a hospital, according to UALR spokesman Joan Duffy. He underwent surgery for his injuries and was in intensive care Wednesday night, Duffy said.

Matthews had made it on foot it across to the parking lot in front of the University Theater, where ambulance attendants reached him to administer emergency care and transport him to a hospital.

The campus alert system went into effect around 2:30. The university did not go into lockdown after the shooting, although students and employees were urged to stay away from the area where the shooting took place.

Still, some students didn't receive the message, including one who arrived on campus for class only to find out it was canceled.

Duffy said the university fed the new system every telephone number they had for the campus’ few residence halls and offices of faculty and workers, as well as school e-mail addresses. However, she said students need to give the university their cell. phone numbers if they want to be notified in case of an emergency.

“We strive to notify as many people as we can. There is no perfect system,” Duffy said. “I know that when we have to notify things like canceling classes because of snow, we notify as best we can ... but there’s always someone who shows up through a snowstorm.”

The UALR shooting comes a day after seven people were injured at a Little Rock park. In that episode, 20-30 people were gathered a Boyle Park when a brawl broke out. Four people were shot and three others injured.

Texts of emergency messages sent to UALR staff and students:

Transmitted at 2:29 p.m.

“This is an emergency notification not a test. There was a shooting on the campus in the area of the theater. The suspect vehicle was a gold Chevrolet Malibu with accident damage to the right side. ... All personnel are to stay away from the area of the Campus Theater. Further instructions to follow.”

Transmitted at 3:32 p.m.

“Emergency update: the victim in this case is being treated at a local hospital. The suspects in this case ... have departed the area, unknown location at this time. The suspect vehicle description as of now is a cream color to gold midsize Japanese make, possibly a Nissan. Early to mid-2000s with right side damage. Current state, the campus is safe and secure with all operations back to normal.”