‘There was a hole in my foot’: Tuskegee University alumni describes being injured in mass shooting

TUSKEGEE, Ala. (WBRC) - As investigators continue to look for suspects and answers in the wake of Saturday night’s mass shooting at Tuskegee University, the victims continue to heal while processing the tragedy and shock.

One alumni who was there described to WBRC the scary moments leading up to getting shot in his foot.

The victim chose to remain anonymous, but says the West Commons on-campus apartments is known as a popular gathering spot on campus once activities like athletic games have died down.

He says he was walking away from the big crowd gathered there when suddenly people began running, so he and his friend started running too, taking shelter with others behind a car as shots rang out.

He says he told everyone to be calm and stay down, even after another girl got shot in the foot, until the gunfire stopped. However, as he and his friend began leaving the scene, he realized something was wrong.

“I kept walking then I noticed some blood was on my shoe, but I was thinking it could be blood from the girl that said she got shot in her foot because my foot was right beside hers,” the victim said, “I took a couple more steps and my foot kept hurting, so I took my shoe off and look at my foot, and saw there was a hole in my foot.”

The shooting victim said he had to undergo surgery in order for the bullet to be removed, but is back at home recovering.

He says he was shocked that there wasn’t a larger police presence in the area at the time of the shooting.

“This time around it just seemed like no TUPD was around, or like making sure things are going smoothly,” he said. “In my 4 ½ years at Tuskegee it seemed like TUPD was always there talking with the students, ensuring everything was going alright, so I kind of went in with the idea that this is kind of safe.”

He says he and other current and former students are calling on more police presence and believes it will prevent something like this from happening ever again.

“I see a lot of outreach from current students and alumni saying Tuskegee needs to do a better job of having security on campus, things like this could be preventable if they know there’s a police presence in the area,” the victim said.

In the wake of the shooting, Tuskegee University’s president promised drastic changes to campus, including the hiring of a new campus security leader.

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