Police Have Suspect in Ark. Shooting

Images (showing 1 of 2 photos)

NORTH LITTLE ROCK — A student injured in a shooting at the University of Arkansas was recovering in a hospital Thursday and campus police said they have a suspect.

James Earl Matthews, 33, a junior studying radio, television and theater, suffered gunshot wounds to his midriff and buttocks and underwent surgery Wednesday.

"The outlook is good," for Matthews, UALR Chancellor Joel Anderson said at a news conference.

Matthews, of North Little Rock, was shot about 2:10 p.m. Wednesday on a sidewalk at the university and witnesses saw two men flee the in a car.

University Police Chief Brad King said he hoped to have a warrant for one suspect later Thursday. The man, who was not identified, has a criminal record with the Little Rock police but King would not disclose the criminal history.

King said detectives held their first in-depth interview with Matthews on Thursday afternoon.

King said police were still trying to identify the second man, but stressed that the 12,000-student urban campus would remain open and faced no further threat. He said extra officers would patrol the campus Thursday.

"Students aren't in any more danger today than they were on Monday," King said.

The police chief declined to discuss what led to the shooting.

Associate Vice Chancellor Cindy Milazzo said a new campus alert system worked well, but there were some bugs.

She said the system became bogged down by outdated telephone numbers even though the alert system went live last week. In addition, she said, the alert system identified itself as "unknown caller" on the cell phones.

Milazzo said the university is trying to fix the problem.

At a meeting Thursday, many among the more than 200 students and university staff members who attended shook their heads "no" when a university official said the campus alert system worked well.

Michael Ledbetter, a professor of earth sciences, said no one in his department received any of the calls. He said they learned of it from a faculty member's spouse.

"The system did not work as beautifully as described," Ledbetter said.

Classes resumed Thursday with more officers on duty, but no problems were reported.

Back To Top