Shortly after midnight on the morning of Thursday, November 5, 2009, a Xavier University student was shot in the leg and is in stable condition at a local hospital. While initial reports indicated that paramedics retrieved the student from a Xavier residence hall, the shooting took place off-campus in the 7700 block of Olive Street in Gert Town.

Details about the incident are still incomplete. Reports indicate that three Xavier students were in a vehicle about six blocks from campus returning from a nearby food establishment when unidentified individuals fired upon the car. One student was hit but he is expected to make a full recovery.

The University is working with local officials to verify other information but at no time was it determined that this shooting compromised campus security. Xavier University works diligently to ensure a safe and secure environment where faculty, staff and students work, learn and live. We encourage all members of the campus community to be mindful of their own safety and to follow the guidance of campus and local police officers.

Campus residents are urged to be cautious both when traveling off campus and not to walk alone at night. Campus police are available to transport students after hours, and blue light emergency phones are available in strategic locations across campus in the event of an emergency. In addition, campus police routinely patrol all University property.

The University community is reminded to contact XU campus police at 520-7490 whenever anything suspicious or potentially threatening is noticed on or near the Xavier campus. The cooperation with our security officers will greatly enhance the safety of this university community.