*, The Behrend College nsasssn / %S s org. „ US POSTAGE * Collegian a Thursdt S her 19, 1996 Erie, PA 16563 VoIXLV, No eptemt Shooting at Penn State Sniper kills one student, wounds another by Danielle M. Murphy Jennifer V. Colvin Editors in Chief Despite a purple mowhawk and a high powered rifle, no one noticed a young woman sitting on a tarp under an apple tree Tuesday morning at University Park. But she became the center of attention when she allegedly opened fire on students at approximately 9:35 a.m., killing one and injuring another. Jillian Robbins, 19 of State College, one seen an ark? Wendy Scheil/CoUeQlsn PhotogrspfuM’ Singing In the rain: Behrend students and faculty were lucky to be on top of a hill. by Doreen Foutz News Editor It rained for forty days and forty nights, or so it seemed after the intense rain Tuesday. Several ‘ Millcreek homes collapsed, and one floated off of its foundation. The Millcreek Mall parking lot was inundated with approximately three and a half feet of standing water. As mall employees rolled up their pants and donned rain slickers and umbrellas in an attempt to forge through the lake, many of their fired five shots toward College Avenue from the northwest comer of the Hetzel Union Building, said David Stormer, assistant vice president for safety and environmental services. A 19 year-old Communications major at Penn State, Melanie Spalla was shot from about 138 feet away and died at the scene. Another student was injured; Nicholas Mensah, 22, was shot from about 300 feet away in his abdomen and was operated on Tuesday afternoon at Centre Community Hospital where he is in the intensive care unit listed in guarded condition. cars were only visible from the hood up. Although there were no storm related injuries, the storm left many people with pools in their basements and some, even had pools in their living rooms. According to the National Weather Service the cause of the torrential rainfall was a strong upper-level storm system, which in crossing the Great Lakes on Tuesday picked up moisture. Upon reaching land, all of the clouds gave way at once. The National Weather service UPDATE: D.A. wants capital case,no bail Jftllian P. Robbins, 19, who allegedly filed in relation to the shooting incident opened fire on Pout State During foe press conference, Gricar changing classes Tuesday, is •ridheis considering this a capital case to be arraigned when her health permits -tuse he believes foal Robbins by District Magistrate Cartnine Prestia. created grave risk of death Centre Country District Attorney Ray to others in addition to the victim of the Gricar held a press conference at 3:00 murder.” on yesterday in Befiefonte to In capital cases, there is no bail, nanomtee foe charges against foe street A preliminary hearing has been %>bbins. scheduled for Sept 26. Gricar She has been chatged with first-degree emphasized that foe charges against naihtor in foe death of 19-year old Robbins are “merely an accusation, and Melanie Spalla. In addition, several she is considered innocent unless and murder and assault charges have been until foe is proven guilty.” measured from two to seven inches of rainfall throughout Erie County. The highest rainfall measured was approximately seven inches in McKean Township near Interstate 79 off West Road. For comparison, the normal September rainfall is 2.40 inches, this year's rainfall for the month of September is already up to 6.40 inches. The current rainfall for the year is 35.97 inches. The normal year-to-date total is 28.16. A witness to the shooting tackled Robbins while she was hunched over her the 7mm Mauser trying to load the second clip according to Stormer; Brendon Malovrh, an aerospace engineering student from Downingtown, Pa, subdued Robbins and wrestled the gun away from her. While struggling with her, Stormer reported that Robbins pulled a knife and tried to stab Malovrh who stepped back; Robbins stabbed herself in the leg, severing an artery. When University police arrived at the scene, Malovrh had already fashioned a tourniquet on Robbins with his belt. “She said she fired five shots and saw two people fall. ” --David Stormer, bn conversation with Jillian Robbins Robbins remains at Centre Community Hospital undo' police guard where she is recovering from surgery. She was arrested at the scene. According to Stormer, Robbins, who is not a Penn State student, knew none of her victims. “She said she fired five shots and saw two people fall,” Stormer said. Police said that a third student later gave them a book from his bag that he had been wearing during the shooting which had a Stormer said Mensah was probably shot first. He had been walking along a path between the HUB lawn and Health and Human Development Building East near the gazebo, he said. According to police, the investigation is still continuing and they will try to reconstruct the event in the upcoming weeks. Stormer said that Robbins gave no reason for the shooting. “They asked her why she did it. She kept saying, ‘I don’t know. 1 don’t know,’“ said a witness to Robbins’ arrest, John Lazo (administration of justice, senior). Another witness, Kara Pehanich (secondary education. sophomore) said that she heard the shots before seeing anything. “I heard the first two shots and when I looked over, I saw the person with a gun under a tree in the comer,” she said. “Then I heard two more shots.” She said that shrubs around the lawn prevented her from seeing the victims fall, but she heard a man ask for someone to call University Health Services and the poir e see SNIPER page 3
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