Published on October 26, 2009 by Philip Poole  
Posted by Philip Poole on 2009-10-26

10/27 UPDATE: The Samford University security officer injured in Monday’s incident on campus was released from the hospital late Monday evening and is recovering at home, according to Mike Coppage, Samford’s director of public safety and emergency management.  For privacy and security reasons, the university is not releasing the name of the injured officer.

 

10/26 UPDATE: The joint investigation into the attempted theft and subsequent shooting incident continues by Homewood P.D. and this department. The second suspect was apprehended by Homewood P.D. where the suspect vehicle was recovered. He did not sustain any injuries in the incident. Our officer remains in University Hospital where he is being examined. At the present time the injuries do not appear to be severe.

Thank you to all who expressed their concerns and offered prayers for our personnel.

 

At approximately 3:00 p.m. this afternoon officers from Samford's Department of Public Safety responded to a call of a shoplifting from the Samford Book Store in University Center. 

Employees of the store were attempting to stop the shoplifter when he exited University Center and attempted to flee in a vehicle. 

Public Safety officers attempted to stop the vehicle when the driver intentionally drove at one of the officers, striking him with the front of the vehicle and throwing him on the hood of the car.  As the car fled the scene the officer was thrown to the ground and sustained injuries to his leg.  In an attempt to stop the violator the officer fired at the vehicle, striking the tire. 

One suspect who was a passenger in the vehicle fled the vehicle and was apprehended by Public Safety officers.  The vehicle fled campus and was found by Homewood police officers a short distance west of the campus on Lakeshore Drive. 

The injured Samford Public Safety officer has been transported to the hospital for examination.

At this point in the investigation it appears that neither  suspect is a Samford employee or student.

Samford's Department of Public Safety and the Homewood Police Department continue to investigate the incident. Samford will provide updated information as it becomes available.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.