University Endures Another Tragedy in Off-Campus Shooting

(TNS) – The shooting at a party near the Indiana University of Pennsylvania campus early Sunday morning marked the latest in a string of incidents involving IUP students in the past decade.

IUP spokeswoman Michelle Fryling confirmed that the party at the Chevy Chase Community Center was not affiliated with the university, but she added that at least two IUP students were injured.

Here are some of the previous incidents:

—March 25, 2023: Twelve people were injured after a second-story floor collapsed inside an apartment complex near IUP, which resulted in five people being treated at the scene and seven others taken by ambulance to a hospital. A neighbor said he heard yelling outside that night and estimated a crowd of 50 to 100 people.

—Oct. 26, 2020: Three of four suspects in the fatal shooting of Pittsburgh man and IUP student Jayden Wright, 20, who was found shot in a parking lot on Oakland Avenue at about 4 a.m. on Oct. 17, 2020, were taken into custody.

—Sept. 13, 2020: An Aliquippa man, 19, was shot multiple times early in the morning during a party at an apartment complex about a mile from IUP’s campus.

—IUPatty’s 2019: Overall police incidents were down compared to 2018, according to officials tracking the incidents in central Indiana County. Police had 89 calls for service, which was down from 139 calls during the same weekend period in 2018.

—March 25, 2017: A man died and a woman was in critical condition following two shootings that police said were unrelated. Police arrested two suspects in the shootings, which occurred near the Indiana University of Pennsylvania campus during IUPatty’s Day.

—Ahead of IUPatty’s 2016: Campus police reported four arrests of IUP students for incidents including driving under the influence, underage drinking, public drunkenness and possession. Borough police reported 12 criminal incidents and the arrests of three IUP students, and state police arrests included two thefts, one public drunkenness and one drug possession.

—IUPatty’s 2015: In response to a state Emergency Management Agency report issued after the 2014 problems, Indiana officials formed a team comprising people from various segments of the community to deal with future celebrations, including homecoming. Some landlords set limits on the number of guests permitted at their properties as well.

—IUPatty’s 2014: Hundreds of college-aged partiers fueled by alcohol — estimated to be more than 400 — packed South Seventh Street, where partiers taunted police and got into brawls that were videotaped and later posted online. Officials said many of those who caused problems were not university students.

Megan Swift is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Megan at 724-850-1204, mswift@triblive.com or via Twitter.

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