HOUSTON — The Prairie View A&M University employee who was shot and killed on campus Monday morning has been identified. PVAMU President Tomikia P. LeGrande said the victim was Kendrick Wilder.
He was gunned down by a former employee at the Governor Bill and Vara Daniel Farm and Ranch around 9:30 a.m.
No students were injured, the university said.
Campus police officers spotted a vehicle matching the suspect's leaving the area and arrested the driver, PVAMU Police Chief Michael Curry said. The suspect's name hasn't been released.
“I was actually walking back from class and I saw all the police here and then you can hear them like telling him, 'Put your hands up, put your hands up!'" freshman Makayla Reeves said. "It’s definitely scary, especially because it’s early in the morning, people trying to get to class, walking in and out of the dorms."
Curry said other officers found Wilder with multiple gunshot wounds and tried to perform "life-saving measures" until EMS arrived but he didn't survive.
After the shooting, an alert went out to students and staff urging everyone to stay inside. The campus in Waller County was under a shelter-in-place until about 12:40 p.m. when the all-clear was given. In-person classes were canceled for the rest of the day but resumed on Tuesday.
Message from PVAMU President
On Tuesday, PVAMU President Tomikia P. LeGrande released the following statement.
"Prairie View A&M University Family,
I reach out to you today with a heavy heart. As has been reported, shortly after 9 a.m. yesterday morning, Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) employee, Kendrick Wilder, was shot and killed by a former employee.
Due to the swift response of the Prairie View A&M University Police Department, the shooter was quickly apprehended and is in custody. Our police department will continue to lead this active investigation.
I am devastated by the loss of life on the farm of our main campus, a place where we conduct the important work of teaching, research, and mentoring, and moreover, a place that is symbolic of our connection and concerted efforts to uplift and positively impact our community.
I visited with some of our staff at the farm this morning, who, despite yesterday’s tragedy, were in place to keep operations running smoothly. I have also spent the majority of today dialoguing with our faculty, staff, and students. Violent acts, such as this one, are far too commonplace in our society. While it is impossible to predict what can occur, we can, and we must do our best to be prepared. And it is our earnest desire for PVAMU to be a safe space for our students, faculty, and staff to learn, work and grow. Please know that we will work vigilantly to elevate the safety of the Prairie View A&M campus community by strengthening approaches for alerts and responses to impending danger. We will be engaging with the entire campus in ongoing efforts to do so.
Our hearts are with Kendrick’s family, those who are personally connected to him and all traumatized by this horrific act of violence. Please know that support is available to our students through University Counseling Services and our faculty and staff through the Employee Assistance Program.
More information regarding a celebration of Kendrick’s life will be forthcoming when plans are released by the family. Let’s all continue to pray for his family and our campus community as we prioritize the well-being and safety of our students, staff, and faculty. We stand together."
7 shot during trail ride party near PVAMU on 11/5
A week ago, seven people were wounded in a mass shooting at a trail ride pasture party held near Prairie View A&M University, according to the Waller County Sheriff's Office. There's no indication that Monday's shooting was related to the Nov. 5 case.
Investigators said a juvenile male, four women and two men were shot while attending the party on Cameron Road near FM 362.
“We’ve had multiple gunshot victims…we do have several EMS en route…,” Waller County Dispatch said over the radio. “Right of the stage…right of the stage…that’s where the victims are going to be at this time…”
WCSO said all of the victims suffered gunshot wounds to their lower bodies, with no known life-threatening injuries.
No arrests have been reported.
Investigators said the trail ride event was being held in conjunction with a Prairie View A&M homecoming party but PVAMU said it was "not an official University homecoming event."
WCSO said the shooting started as an argument that escalated when someone pulled out a gun and bystanders were shot.
“I was front row,” a witness told KHOU 11. “They were fighting. After they got done fighting, a girl got shot.”
“People were running, stomping on people,” Josh Tillery, a Waller County resident, said. “We were standing, and a girl walked up saying, ‘I think I’ve been shot.’”
Tillery said hundreds parked illegally on the land he farms and that this event comes with trouble every year.
“What’s it going to take? Somebody to get shot every year to stop this?” he said. “This is crazy. It doesn’t even make sense.”
Caleb Pete, one of the event organizers, said the nonprofit PV Trail Ride has hosted this event for three years and this was the first major incident.
Prairie View A&M releases statement on Nov. 5 shooting
Prairie View A&M released the following statement Monday morning in the incident:
"PVAMU is both saddened and troubled by the senseless act of violence that occurred in Waller County last night. Although this was not an official PVAMU homecoming event and was unaffiliated with the university, our campus community is deeply concerned for those injured and all affected by this incident. The Waller County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation."