Four people were injured in a stabbing incident that unfolded Monday morning at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, about 45 minutes away from El Dorado.
One victim, Dominique McKane, a graduate student at LA Tech, was airlifted to a Shreveport hospital as a result of his injuries, according to statements from the university and reporting from local news outlets.
Three other victims who were not students were also injured; two were transported to the North Louisiana Medical Center in Ruston, while the other refused treatment. One of the victims at NLMC was in critical condition, while McKane and the other hospitalized victim were in “serious but stable” condition, according to a statement issued by LA Tech.
Jacoby Johnson, 23, has been arrested in connection with the incident. Johnson was a senior at LA Tech, according to a news release from the university, and is currently facing four charges of attempted second-degree murder.
According to a news release issued by LA Tech, shortly after 9 a.m. Monday, campus police were alerted to the incident, which was occurring at the Lambright Sports and Wellness Center on the LA Tech campus. The Ruston Police Department, Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office, Ruston Fire Department and Pafford EMS also responded to provide care, aid and transport the victims to receive medical attention.
Within four minutes of receiving the call, Johnson had been apprehended. In their press release, the school said the attack “appears to be a random act of violence.”
LifeShare Blood Centers announced Monday afternoon that a replenishment blood drive for the victims of the stabbing has been scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 16, at the Ropp Center on LA Tech’s campus, 305 Wisteria in Ruston. A press release states that all blood types are needed, but especially O-Negative. LifeShare has a local office at 1803 N. West Ave.
The university is also offering counseling to students. For more information, call 318-257-2488 or visit latech.edu/counseling-services.
“In the wake of this unsettling incident, our hearts go out to those impacted most directly,” LA Tech President Les Guice said in a statement released by the university. “Our immediate focus is on those affected by today’s violence. While we’re grateful for the timely care being provided to the victims, we understand the shock and worry that may linger on campus and in the community. The University will continue to make safety a priority.”
Additional details about the three non-student victims were not immediately available. A message left with the Ruston Police Department had not been returned by press time Monday.