DOVER, Del. – Loyer Braden, 18, has been expelled from Delaware State University (DSU) under a zero-tolerance policy for having firearms on campus, said school officials on Sept. 29. He was charged with last month’s shooting of two classmates.
A DSU spokesperson said that Braden will experience the same judicial procedure that any student who violated a university zero-tolerance policy would, and that DSU policy states that having a firearm on campus results in automatic expulsion, with no exceptions. However, any student found to have violated the policy is permitted to request a formal hearing with DSU’s judicial affairs office, and Braden was informed of his right to a hearing. He has one week to respond.
Two freshmen were hurt in the Sept. 21 shooting. The gun used has not been located.
According to what witnesses told the lead DSU investigator for the case, Braden said on the day of the shooting that he had fired shots into the air to scare a party that included the victims.
Braden faces charges of attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault, reckless endangerment and possession of a firearm during commission of a felony.
According to the campus spokesperson, investigators had testified that Braden had shot a gun in the air, which shows he had a gun on campus.
No weapon was found either in Braden’s dorm room or car. The day of the shooting, a test conducted for gunshot residue on Braden’s hands turned out negative, said Braden’s attorney. He also pointed out the lack of evidence connecting Braden to the shooting.
