By Monica Land
JACKSON – Campus officials at another local university are putting students on high alert after a second shooting death of a student over the weekend. Nineteen-year-old Nolan Ryan Henderson III, of Jackson State, was another victim of weekend violence after officials said he was shot in the face at an off-campus pool party.
Henderson was pronounced dead about 2:15 a.m. Sunday by Hinds County Coroner Sharon Grisham-Stewart. There are no suspect’s in custody.
Henderson’s death comes about four hours after 21-year-old John Sanderson was found shot to death in a dorm at Mississippi State University in Starkville. Officials there said three men were seen leaving the area, but no suspects are in custody.
Jackson Police Department spokeswoman Colendula Green said Henderson, of Atlanta, was shot at the Palisades apartments at 1400 Valley St.
The complex is primarily populated by college students and is within walking distance of JSU’s campus.
While apartment managers at the complex said the shooting was accidental, witnesses at the scene told police Henderson was visiting the complex during a pool party Saturday night when an altercation got out of control. It is not immediately known if Henderson, who was found lying on the ground in front of one of the apartments, was involved in the incident or was just an innocent bystander.
“This is a very tragic loss,” said Carolyn Meyers, Jackson State president in a statement. “As a parent and grandparent, my heart goes out to the family. We offer our sincerest condolences and prayers during this very difficult time.”
University officials have requested that JSU students take extra safety precautions during the investigation and more attention to university identification will be in place.
Grief counseling was available in the Meditation Room of the Student Center on Sunday and will resume at 8 a.m. Monday.
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