USC Shooting: Coroner Confirms The Shooter And Victim Were Once Married
As previously reported by the Inquisitr, a shooting at the University of South Carolina (USC) resulted in the deaths of two people, including the shooter. The campus was placed on lockdown while a SWAT team investigated, and it was later discovered that the incident was a murder-suicide.
An update from WLTX 19 states that Richland County Coroner Gary Watts has concluded that the person killed during the shooting was 45-year-old Dr. Raja Fayad, who was a professor at USC. The shooter, 46-year-old Sunghee Kwon, was the ex-wife of Fayad. Evidence shows that Kwon shot Fayad several times in the upper body before fatally shooting herself in the abdomen.
Watts stated that the two had divorced years ago, but their relationship had continued even after they split. Prior to the USC shooting, the two were living in a house together.
Coroner says woman involved in shooting death of USC professor Raja Fayad is Sunghee Kwon, 46 http://t.co/nGdOqHvKmU pic.twitter.com/YaGlhaBeGg
— Cassie Cope (@cassielcope) February 6, 2015
Others are speaking about the beloved professor. Dr. Fayad was recently tenured this year. #USCShootingpic.twitter.com/HJDu0jCYSl — Colby Gallagher (@ColbyKGallagher) February 6, 2015
The Coroner’s Office also noted that prior to the shooting at USC, Fayad was staying at a Value Place hotel, according to Greenville News. The State Law Enforcement Division said that Fayad and Kwon were the only two people in the room when the shooting took place. Spokesman Thom Berry said police are still trying to find a motive for the shooting.
“We have not found any suicide note or any other letters suggesting what may have happened.”
USC President Harris Pastides took to Twitter to honor Fayad.
The sun is out this morning. Let’s honor Professor Fayad with respect. Show someone that we care. Hold a Gamecock’s hand today.
— Harris Pastides (@HarrisPastides) February 6, 2015
The Post and Courier reports that police were notified at 12:54 p.m. on Thursday of an incident taking place at USC. Twenty minutes later, emergency texts, emails, and tweets were sent out from the school.
“SHORS (sic) FIRED AT NEW SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH. Seek safe shelter. Obey officials.”
By 2:14 p.m., another message was sent out, telling students and faculty at USC that the campus was safe, and the shooting was an isolated incident.
Both police and university officials are being praised for how quickly they responded to the shooting at USC. Pastides said in an email that both will be evaluated for their performance, but that’s not the most important thing at this time.
“Our more important concern is the healing of the university community. On that front, we are starting off on the right foot — counseling, dialogue and the start of returning to normal. I am very proud of our students and the greater community.”
[Image via Twitter]
