Contact: Maridith Geuder
A campus dining employee has been fired and a Mississippi State student suspended following a Wednesay (Oct. 8) morning altercation involving weapons.
Dean of Students Mike White said the approximately 2:30 a.m. incident apparently began as an off-campus altercation and spilled onto the southeastern part of campus, where weapons were discharged near Blackjack Road.
"University police officers were on the scene within minutes, and no one was injured," he said.
"Police officers quickly detained suspects and witnesses, obtaining statements that led to the recovery of all weapons," he added.
Three suspects subsequently were arrested. The employee, TaForrest Allen, was terminated immediately. The student, Michael Oden, 20, was suspended pending a campus judicial hearing, White said. All three suspects have been banned from the MSU campus.
"This was a serious incident, and our police officers were able to quickly control the situation and secure the area," White said.
Because events were contained within minutes and posed no threat to campus, he said no emergency notification systems were activated.