Photo by Marie LeonardHarris County Sheriff's Office deputies and Lone Star College System officials discuss the shooting at LSC–North Harris at a media briefing the afternoon of Jan. 23.
More details have surfaced regarding the Jan. 22 shooting at Lone Star College–North Harris, but law enforcement officials are still investigating leads that could turn up more information on a possible second person of interest.
Three individuals—including alleged shooter Carlton Berry—were taken to area hospitals with gunshot wounds Tuesday afternoon after the shooting occurred outside the campus library. Berry, 22, is charged with two counts of aggravated assault and is under guard at an area hospital, according to the Harris County Sheriff's Office, which had 140 units respond to the incident.
Jody Neal, 25, was one of the wounded and is in the hospital recovering from gunshot wounds to his leg and abdomen, but charges are not expected to be filed against him. Neal is not believed to be a LSCS student—unlike Berry who had a college ID—but he was on campus to work on to his GED, according to the sheriff's department.
LSCS employee Bobby Cliburn suffered from gunshot wounds during the incident, and a woman who suffered what may be an anxiety attack was also sent to the hospital, according to the sheriff's office.
Despite reports yesterday of a second suspect, law enforcement officials are still determining whether there is any merit to that possibility and have since interviewed more than 100 individuals.
"There is still some information that indicates that there's probably a loose end we need to clear up one way or the other," said Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia.
Law enforcement officials are still searching for the weapon—believed to be a pistol—used during the incident.
"If you know of that firearm, we need it, and we need your help to recover it," Garcia said.
At least 10 gunshots were fired during the shooting, Garcia said, but only one firearm was allegedly used.
"It's imperative to point out that our hearts and prayers continue to be with the families of Newtown, Connecticut," Garcia said. "This situation that we confronted here, thank God, was nothing like that. What we had here was idiocy, stupidity; we had individuals who did not care about putting other people in harm's way."
Although the campus was on lock-down yesterday afternoon, classes resumed at LSC–North Harris on schedule this morning. The college system serves more than 90,000 students, 19,000 of which attend the campus located in northern Harris County.
"Students are concerned, but we are trying to emphasize to them that this was an isolated incident," said Steve Head, LSC–North Harris president.
Individuals who have information about the whereabouts of the weapon used during the incident are urged to call Crimestoppers at 713-222-TIPS, or download the iWatch Harris County smartphone application to their phones.
