May 7, 2009
CROTON FALLS, NY – A Wesleyan University (Middletown, CT) female student was shot and killed at a university bookstore where she worked on Wednesday, May 6. The victim, Johanna Justin-Jinich (21) was shot multiple times. A semiautomatic handgun was recovered at the scene, Broad Street Books, located near the Wesleyan campus. It has been reported that the alleged gunman, who was not a student at Wesleyan, had a connection with the victim and had made previous threats against her.
The Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus released the following statement in connection with this shooting.
“We offer our sympathy to the family and friends of Johnanna Justin-Jinich, and the Wesleyan University community. Sadly, this incident reminds us that we are all at risk of gun violence, even in what should be safe environments such as a university book store. All too often, this is the result when guns are introduced into a confrontational situation.”
Although the victim was a Wesleyan University student, this shooting is technically not a “school shooting” in that the bookstore where the shooting occurred is located two blocks from the main campus. According to a U.S. Justice Department study, 93 percent of violence against college students occurs off campus.
In the universe of gun violence, college campuses are among the safest environments for students – much safer than the communities that surround them. This is due in no small part to the fact that nearly all colleges and universities have adopted policies that severely restrict or prohibit firearms.
The Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus is working to keep it that way. The answer to gun violence is not more guns.
