Students cope with tragic loss
By: Jessica Robinson
Staff Reporter
Issue date: 10/2/07 Section: Other Stories
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The fatal shooting Sunday night of University of Memphis football player Taylor Bradford has created an atmosphere of sadness and fear on The U of M campus among the student body, particularly residents.
Carpenter Complex resident Trenton Busby said when he discovered that his neighbor was killed, he was in complete shock.
"I was shocked because I knew him, and when I found out that his wreck happened so close to our complex, I got worried because it could've happened to anybody," said the sophomore marketing management major.
Bradford's death also caused a stir among other campus residents, who suddenly heard the news after dormitories were ordered to be put on lock-down.
"I found out around 11:30 p.m. when the desk assistant told me I needed to check out my visitor because we were on lock-down," said Tamara Jones, Rawls Hall resident. "After talking to the DA about why we were on lockdown, I learned that the student was someone I knew."
Kimberly Macklin, junior management information systems major, said she's a former classmate of Bradford's and is deeply saddened by his death.
"I don't know how he was outside of the classroom, but in class he was always willing to help others if they didn't understand something," Macklin said. "He was just an overall good person."
Macklin said although crime is commonplace in the city of Memphis, she never would've thought a homicide would happen on The U of M campus.
"I think it's a mess that you hear about something like this everywhere else, like at Virginia Tech or Delaware," Macklin said. "But when a school murder happens so close to home, it seems to be more of a reality."
Busby said the first two incidents of the school year alone should've raised eyebrows.
"Especially since someone almost lost her life in the last incident," he said. "Now someone actually has lost a life."
In a press conference yesterday afternoon, President Shirley Raines said that The University of Memphis has never experienced a shooting death on campus in the past.
Carpenter Complex resident Trenton Busby said when he discovered that his neighbor was killed, he was in complete shock.
"I was shocked because I knew him, and when I found out that his wreck happened so close to our complex, I got worried because it could've happened to anybody," said the sophomore marketing management major.
Bradford's death also caused a stir among other campus residents, who suddenly heard the news after dormitories were ordered to be put on lock-down.
"I found out around 11:30 p.m. when the desk assistant told me I needed to check out my visitor because we were on lock-down," said Tamara Jones, Rawls Hall resident. "After talking to the DA about why we were on lockdown, I learned that the student was someone I knew."
Kimberly Macklin, junior management information systems major, said she's a former classmate of Bradford's and is deeply saddened by his death.
"I don't know how he was outside of the classroom, but in class he was always willing to help others if they didn't understand something," Macklin said. "He was just an overall good person."
Macklin said although crime is commonplace in the city of Memphis, she never would've thought a homicide would happen on The U of M campus.
"I think it's a mess that you hear about something like this everywhere else, like at Virginia Tech or Delaware," Macklin said. "But when a school murder happens so close to home, it seems to be more of a reality."
Busby said the first two incidents of the school year alone should've raised eyebrows.
"Especially since someone almost lost her life in the last incident," he said. "Now someone actually has lost a life."
In a press conference yesterday afternoon, President Shirley Raines said that The University of Memphis has never experienced a shooting death on campus in the past.