CSUN University News Clippings

Authorities identify suspect in Sac State fatal beating

(October 22, 2009)

By Kim Minugh and Laurel Rosenhall
Published: 10/21/09

Authorities have identified the suspect in this afternoon’s fatal beating on the California State University, Sacramento, campus as Quran Jones, a 19-year-old student who lived at the dormitory where the violence occurred.

Jones, who was shot by university police officers after he allegedly charged them with a knife, is out of surgery and is in stable condition, said Sgt. Joe Green of the university police department.

The Sacramento County Coroner’s Office is expected to release the name of the victim, who died after being transported to UC Davis Medical Center, Thursday morning. Green said he is a 23-year-old student who also appeared to live at the American River Courtyard dormitory.

Green said detectives are still working to determine what prompted Jones’ outburst, in which witnesses said he thrashed a dormitory room before police arrived.

Once Jones is released from the hospital, he will be arrested and booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail on suspicion of murder and attempted murder of a police officer, Green said.

The relationship between the two men remains unknown.

Addressing a throng of reporters this afternoon, campus police Chief Dan Davis tried to assure worried students and parents that there is no ongoing threat to anyone on campus.

“I can tell you this was an isolated altercation that took place between two individuals,” one of whom is in the hospital and the other is dead, Davis said. “The campus is safe.”

Shortly after 2 p.m., campus police officers responded to the American River Courtyard dormitory after reports of a disturbance there. A campus spokeswoman said students had reported a man was upset and breaking windows.

“Police came to calm him down and he wouldn’t calm down,” said spokeswoman Gloria Moraga.

Officers arrived and confronted the man inside the dormitory, authorities said. The man then charged at officers with a knife, and at least one officer fired a pepperball gun in an effort to stop him, Davis said.

The pepperball gun – which law enforcement officers consider a “less-than-lethal” alternative to firing a handgun – was ineffective, and the man continued his charge at officers, Davis said.

At least one officer fired a gun and hit the man. It’s unclear how many officers fired, or how many total shots were fired, he said.

Davis said the beating victim was found on the floor of one of the dormitory rooms. He was taken to UC Davis Medical Center, where he later was pronounced dead.

Earlier, Sacramento police Sgt. Norm Leong said the victim possibly had been beaten with a baseball bat. Tonight, Green said he was not able to confirm whether a bat had been used to beat the victim.

Police evacuated the first floor of the dormitory – a new building touted for its apartment-style units surrounding a central courtyard – where the incident occurred and blocked access to the building, but it is now open.

Publication: Sacramento Bee