MIDWEST CITY, Okla. — A 20-year-old Rose State College student was shot and killed on campus Monday in what police are describing as a domestic situation.
Authorities say the suspect confronted his wife — who is also a student at the school — and the male victim, identified as Robenie “RJ” Long Jr., as they were leaving the school’s Humanities and Administration building, reports CNN. The suspect, 30-year-old Brandon Morrissette, fired several shots at the victim.
Student Kevin McCormack said he was meeting a friend on campus when he heard gunfire. He looked over and saw a man fall to the ground and a woman trying to calm down a man holding a gun. Midwest City Police Chief Sid Porter said officers who were assigned to patrol the campus arrived on the scene within a minute. When approached by officers, Morrissette “got down on his knees, raised his hands, and stated he surrendered,” according to a news release from police. Long was pronounced dead at the scene.
The incident was first reported as an active shooter situation and the school was placed on lockdown. Tactical teams from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office went to the campus to confirm there were no other threats.
Porter praised students and staff for their response to the shooting and noted the campus had conducted an active shooter drill just weeks prior, according to KXII.
“Things got locked down real quick,” Porter said. “I just think they did a fantastic job listening to the school and everybody staying down and not panicking because we didn’t know what was going on.”
People on campus were asked to leave after the lockdown was lifted. The school, a two-year college with around 13,000 students, remained closed Tuesday.
Morrissette is being held at the Midwest City jail and is facing a first-degree murder charge.
