The Vice-President of Iowa Western Community College says new security measures will be implemented, following a shooting incident that took place Saturday evening. Dan Kohler the college’s vice president for marketing and public relations, told the Daily Non Pareil more cameras will be installed at Iowa Western, and lighting will be added to the parking lot. A stronger security presence will also be extended into the evening hours. Kohler said the heightened security should be a deterrent for anyone on campus who doesn’t belong, especially as construction disrupts the normal flow of students around the college.
19-year-old Iowa Western Community College student Dalton Crosser was shot in the upper left arm Saturday evening in the parking lot of a dormitory in what he told authorities was a Craigslist deal gone wrong. The Council Bluffs Police Department is asking the public for tips to find the three men suspected of carrying out the assault. The shooting took place about 5:40 p.m. near Iowa Western’s Reiver Village dormitories.
Authorities said Crosser and his friend, Nicholas Butorvich, had arraigned to meet someone to sell an item, and they drove to the meeting place in Butorvich’s vehicle. Two men arrived and got into the back seat of the car, where one of them drew a gun and pointed it at Crosser, demanding their wallets. Crosser believed the gun was fake and attempted to grab it, causing a struggle for the gun. Crosser was shot in the upper left arm and shoulder, and the two men fled and drove away.
Butorvich drove Crosser to Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital, where he was treated and release later that evening. Police responded to the hospital about 5:54 p.m. after a gunshot victim was reported.
College officials made the decision to notify students through resident hall social media accounts and by posting notices on the doors of all the campus buildings, complying with a federal law requiring timely notification of dangerous incidents on campus. Kohler said social media reached most of the intended audience. He said the college opted against a mass notification that evening because the incident was already well over by the time officials were made aware of it and because there was no imminent threat. A campus-wide notification was sent electronically on Monday to all students and staff.
A statement was posted on the college’s internal website Monday giving an update on the incident and asking students to avoid creating situations like the one on Saturday. Iowa Western does offer free escorts to students, staff and faculty who don’t feel comfortable on campus. To request an escort, call (402) 659-4939 or dial 8000 from any campus telephone.
The suspects in the incident face charges of suspicion of robbery and attempted murder. Police have asked that anyone with information about the incident call CrimeStoppers at (712) 328-STOP (7867).
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