ARTICLE UPDATE – 11/15/23:
One of the women stabbed by a Louisiana Tech University student on Monday has died, according to local authorities. The victim has been identified as Annie Richardson. Richardson was stabbed as she left an exercise class at the school’s recreation center.
The suspect, 23-year-old LTU student Jacoby Johnson, was originally charged with four counts of attempted second-degree murder. He has now been charged with one count of second-degree murder.
Freshman Colin Campbell told KTBS-TV that he heard screams coming from the recreation center and rushed over to help. He located two injured women, including Richardson, who had been stabbed in the throat. Campbell put the two victims in his pickup truck and drove them to a local hospital. Richardson was later airlifted to a Shreveport hospital where she died Tuesday afternoon.
The other victims have been identified as graduate student Dominique McKane, Retired Lincoln Parish 3rd District Judge Cynthia Woodard, and Debby Hollimon, a retired teacher who was cut on the face when she tried to help McKane during the attack.
“There was no rhyme or reason,” LTU Police Chief Randal Hermes said about the incident.
Hermes also said campus police had no previous encounters with Johnson but that he was detained in February for possession of marijuana and “nothing that would indicate concerning behavior.”
Counseling has been made available for students. Appointments can be made by visiting Keeny Hall 310, calling 318.257.2488, or visiting latech.edu/counseling-services/. Group counseling sessions will be held daily at 3 p.m. for the remainder of the week. A campus blood drive is also planned for Thursday to support the victims.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE – 11/14/223:
RUSTON, La. — A Louisiana Tech University (LTU) student is accused of stabbing four women on campus Monday in a “random act of violence,” according to the school.
The four victims — one graduate student and three non-students — were attacked around 9 a.m. as they were leaving the Lambright Sports and Wellness Center, ABC reports. Authorities said the victims’ ages are 23, 62, 65, and 72.
The suspect, identified as 23-year-old LTU student Jacoby Johnson, had reportedly been inside the building before running out and attacking the victims. LTU Police Chief Randall Hermes said Johnson “ran up behind them and surprised them,” stabbing them in the neck and back areas with a folding knife.
One victim was airlifted to a Shreveport hospital in critical condition. Two others were transported to local hospitals in serious but stable condition and the fourth victim refused treatment. The Ruston Leader identified the graduate student victim as Dominique McKane.
Johnson fled the scene but was apprehended by campus police just a few minutes later at the nearby Kidd Student Housing Complex. He was taken to the Northern Louisiana Medical Center for injuries sustained during the initial attack. Johnson has been charged with four counts of attempted second-degree murder.
Ruston Police Chief Steve Rogers said his department had contact with the suspect a week prior but provided few details, according to WWLTV.
“We had one reported incident with him,” he said. “It wasn’t criminal. We went and checked him out and had people check him out. He was fine at that time.”
We will provide updates as they become available.
