Charges have been filed in a fatal early-morning shooting near Shepherd University.
Charges have been filed in a fatal early-morning shooting near Shepherd University.
Nineteen-year-old Evan Taylor was found with multiple gunshot wounds at University Heights Apartments and pronounced dead, while 25-year-old Travis Smith was later detained after officers tracked him using surveillance footage.
Smith has been charged with Taylor’s murder and remains held without bond as the investigation continues. See the link to the full story in the comments.
When deputies and emergency personnel arrived, they located 19-year-old Evan Taylor inside the apartment. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Witnesses provided a description of the suspect, which was broadcast to responding units.
Officer Adam Letts of the Shepherd University Police Department reviewed university surveillance footage and observed a male matching the description entering university property on foot shortly after the incident.
Authorities say the man was tracked on surveillance cameras to the H Lot parking area, where he was seen entering a vehicle.
Officer Letts and Officer Ricketts responded to the parking lot and detained the man. During the detention, deputies recovered a loaded Glock handgun from his person.
In a message to the campus community, university leadership addressed the loss.
“I am heartbroken to share the news that an off-campus shooting on Friday, February 13 has claimed the life of one of our students. The entire Shepherd community grieves as we try to cope with this tragic event, and our hearts are with the victim’s family, friends, and classmates.”
The statement said local law enforcement, in coordination with the Shepherd University Police Department, quickly responded to the incident and reviewed university security camera footage in real time to track the suspect’s movements.
